Francisco Alvarez, the New York Mets catcher, has shown impressive consistency in his defense this MLB season. On the offensive side, however, his performance has been more variable. After an explosive previous season with 25 home runs, Alvarez has managed only five this season, although his .742 OPS going into Sunday’s game against the Seattle Mariners indicates some overall improvement from last year.

Yet, his hitting over the past month, reflected by a .185 batting average and a .486 OPS, suggests problems. According to a Metsmerized Online article by James Villani on August 11, advanced metrics indicate Alvarez’s struggles at the plate could be even worse. Villani notes that Alvarez ranks low in metrics like average exit velocity, ‘square-up’ rate, and barrel rate, indicating he’s not hitting the ball effectively. Additionally, a high strikeout and whiff rate alongside a moderate chase rate contribute to his underwhelming expected statistical performance in batting average, weighted on-base average, and slugging.

Despite these challenges, Alvarez remains a valuable asset for the Mets, particularly due to his elite skills in pitch-framing, which ranks him among the top catchers in the league according to Baseball Savant. His professionalism and detailed approach to the game have also earned high praise from Mets pitchers Sean Manaea and Paul Blackburn.

While his current batting issues are a concern, Alvarez’s defensive capabilities and overall contribution make him a vital player for the Mets, with potential for future improvement in his offensive game.