KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Francisco Alvarez is flourishing in a minor league uniform, maybe leaving open solely the query of when he'll return to the Mets.
The catcher homered for a 3rd time in two video games on Sunday for Triple-A Syracuse, the place he owns a 1.196 OPS in July.
It has additionally been famous by Mets officers that pitching prospect Brandon Sproat's consecutive very good begins occurred with Alvarez behind the plate.
Alvarez was optioned by the Mets to Syracuse on June 22 to work on all points of his sport.
“It's the work ethic, since Day 1 — how constructive he has been,” supervisor Carlos Mendoza mentioned earlier than the Mets misplaced 3-2 to the Royals. “All the things has been phenomenal. He's doing every part we're asking him to do, and he continues to place himself able the place like, ‘Hey, you realize I'm right here.' ”
Requested if Alvarez was a candidate for recall instantly after the All-Star break, Mendoza mentioned he can be discussing the subject with president of baseball operations David Stearns.
“The great factor is [Alvarez] is doing lots of the issues we're asking him to do,” Mendoza mentioned.
“He's watching the movie and driving the ball to all fields and defensively there's been lots of enchancment as nicely, whether or not it's receiving, the blocking, we all know the throwing has been there. A whole lot of good issues are taking place.”
José Buttó, who was positioned on the injured listing (retroactive to July 1) with an sickness, is scheduled to pitch in a minor league rehab sport on Tuesday for Single-A St. Lucie, based on Mendoza.
The fitting-hander might be evaluated afterward for a potential return to the Mets.
Max Kranick was examined Thursday and is deciding his subsequent step — Tommy John surgical procedure is a risk, based on Mendoza.
Kranick was positioned on the IL final month with a proper elbow pressure.
Mendoza is ready till later within the week earlier than asserting his beginning pitching alignment popping out of the All-Star break.
Among the many concerns for Friday's sport in opposition to the Reds are if David Peterson is used within the All-Star sport and the way Sean Manaea feels following his 65-pitch look on Sunday in his season debut.
