Francisco Alvarez is coming off an injury-riddled season with the Mets. Playing in only 76 games, Alvarez wasn’t able to have a big impact on the team last season. However, this may finally be the year he can unlock that potential and have that big year Mets fans have been waiting for.

Francisco Alvarez Can Help Impact The Mets This Season

Alvarez’s numbers last year were not bad, given that they played less than half their games. In 2025, he hit 11 homers, had 32 RBIs, and had a slash line of .256/.339/447. Overall, not terrible, but it had little to no impact, as the Mets would miss the playoffs. He showed in his rookie season that he has the potential to be a huge power bat in this lineup.

In 2023, 21-year-old Alvarez would go on to hit 25 homers in 123 games, becoming just the 2nd 21-year-old catcher in MLB history to reach 20 homers in a season. If Alvarez can go back to hitting like the power hitter he once was, he can definitely help be a productive bat for this Mets lineup.

Alvarez Needs To Become That Power Hitter Again

While Alvarez’s average did increase the past two seasons, his power has diminished. While it is known he was hurt for most of last season, in 2024, he played in 100 games for the Mets. Sadly, his power was nowhere near what it was in his rookie season, going from 25 to 11 homers. He has attempted to change his swing and his stance in the past, and none of it really worked until the 2nd half of last season.  Alvarez changed his stance, allowing him to finally be on time with fastballs, which had been his biggest weakness. He started standing more upright and opened his stance from 2 degrees to 15 degrees. This helps him go to the opposite field more often.

Alvarez Still Has The Potential To Be The Mets Catcher For The Future

At just 24 years old, Alvarez still has the tools to be a franchise player for this team for years to come. He already has the arm to throw out runners behind the plate; Alvarez needs to get his bat in order. Whether or not he sticks with the spray approach or not, it will be interesting to see if he can get back that power he once had from his rookie year. He can be a big help to the bottom of the lineup if he continues to make the right adjustments.

Is Alvarez In Store For A Big Year?

It will be intriguing to see how Alvarez does this year. Whether he will stay as a spray hitter or if he forgets all his adjustments and goes back to being a pull hitter again. While there hasn’t been much talk surrounding him this offseason, this could be his time to have a huge year. It would certainly take the pressure off the top of the order. Let’s see what kind of year Alvarez has in store for 2026.

Main Photo Credits: Matt Marton-Imagn Images