During spring training at Port St. Lucie, Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez showed promising signs of returning to peak form, fueling optimistic projections about his 2026 potential. After a challenging 2025 season marked by mechanical struggles and a midyear demotion to Triple-A Syracuse, Alvarez appears to have recalibrated both his physical condition and technique, aiming for a breakout campaign.
Mets catching coach J.P. Arencibia, who has worked closely with Alvarez, compared the young player’s talent to iconic symbols, emphasizing the immense ability that remains despite past setbacks. Arencibia predicts an extraordinary season, describing Alvarez as a candidate to rank among the best catchers in the league.
Refining Technique and Rebuilding Confidence
Over the offseason, Alvarez focused heavily on regaining his optimal batting posture and improving his overall conditioning, shedding eight to ten pounds through nutritional changes. He reverted to the batting stance that he adopted in the latter half of 2024, after experimenting unsuccessfully earlier last year. This return to form was pivotal, as his earlier mechanical adjustments had contributed to offensive declines and his demotion in June 2025.
Alvarez acknowledged the support he received during his time in Triple-A, crediting Arencibia, Mets management, and teammates for helping him improve various aspects of his game, from hitting to defensive skills. His goal for this season is comprehensive enhancement rather than focusing on isolated areas.
“I just want to improve in everything,”
Alvarez said.
“I don’t want to focus on one part. I want to focus on everything . . . When I went down to Triple-A, they helped me — J.P., the catching coach, even the manager. Everyone helped me with different things, even the hitting.”
Struggles of the Past Year and Key Defensive Improvements
Alvarez’s rookie season in 2024 was marked by 25 home runs and strong defensive metrics, including above-average pitch framing and pop time. However, 2025 saw his performance stumble due to changes in his batting stance that hindered offensive production. His defensive prowess also suffered; his framing percentile dropped dramatically from 84th to 16th, and his pop time slowed. These difficulties combined to undermine his confidence and led to his reassignment to Syracuse.
Before the demotion, Alvarez was batting .236 with three home runs over 35 games. After returning to the Mets in July, he rebounded by hitting .276 with eight home runs in 41 games, despite playing through injuries to his left thumb and a torn ligament in his right hand.
“I kept talking with our hitting coach Jeff Albert in the offseason,”
Alvarez said.
“We’re staying with the same thing I was doing and I’m working on the same routine — everything the same . . . I just want to win. That’s the No. 1 thing since Day 1 — just win, have a good relationship with my teammates, be a better teammate every day. That’s my goal.”
Comprehensive Defensive Adjustments Boost Performance
Manager Carlos Mendoza praised Alvarez’s defensive progress following his stint in the minors, highlighting improvements in receiving, blocking, throwing, and game-calling as a result of the reset period. Mendoza views those weeks as fundamental to the player’s overall development heading into the season.
“The receiving, the blocking was a lot better, the throwing, the game-calling,”
Mendoza said.
“Those weeks he spent in the minor leagues, it was kind of like a reset for him.”
Arencibia, having taken over as catching coach this offseason, pinpointed the main issue affecting Alvarez’s performance as a mechanical flaw related to his footwork. The back toe was slipping in the one-legged stance Alvarez employed, impairing his stability.
Correcting this base allowed Alvarez to regain form and better capitalize on the unique advantages of his stance, which enables lower glove positioning for framing pitches below the knees and quicker pitch releases.
Using vivid imagery to explain Alvarez’s condition and capacity, Arencibia offered several metaphors to capture the essence of the catcher’s talent and recent challenges.
“You can be a Ferrari and have a flat front tire,”
Arencibia said.
“It’s not going to drive well, but it’s still a Ferrari.”
On maintaining a solid foundation, he added:
“When you have [those fronds], it keeps it firm . . . I’m not going to be as strong as I need to be if I don’t have a good base.”
Regarding throwing mechanics:
“If you’re stepping back while you’re throwing a punch, you’re not going to be in a strong position.”
Most significantly, Arencibia asserted that Alvarez’s inherent skill remains elite and resilient despite his prior difficulties:
“It’s not that he’s a different guy [now],”
Arencibia said.
“He’s always a Rolls-Royce. The dude is one of the best in the world . . . He essentially just had to refill the tires.”
Alvarez’s Role in the Mets’ Future Success
With improved stability and mechanics, Alvarez’s defensive capabilities have enhanced, including his ability to block pitches and throw out base-stealers—an area that had previously been a weakness. Despite rule changes that have made base-stealing easier league-wide, Alvarez has become noticeably more effective at controlling the running game.
Combined with his power-hitting ability and growing defensive acuity, Alvarez is poised to be a cornerstone for the Mets in the upcoming season. Arencibia conveyed confidence that Alvarez’s physical gifts, described as extraordinary, are ready to emerge fully this year.
“With Alvy, he’s an absolute freak of nature when it comes to his ability,”
Arencibia said.
“It’s just a matter of letting his ability shine.”
Other Prospects Develop in Spring Training
Meanwhile, rookie right-hander Jonah Tong made progress during his first live bullpen session of the spring, throwing about 35 pitches and feeling strong with his slider, cutter, and curveball. This camp, Tong is focused on refining his off-speed pitches to complement his fastball and changeup, aiming for greater confidence across his entire repertoire.
“Slider, the cutter thing, felt really good,”
Tong said.
“Continuing to develop the off-speed. I know last year, I was really confident in the fastball, changeup. Just making sure I have the same level of confidence with my other two offerings.”
Manager Carlos Mendoza stressed the importance of Tong’s comprehensive development for the team’s pitching staff.
“I want him to go out there and continue to develop all of his pitches . . . He’s going to pitch for us and we’re going to need him.”
