A healthy Francisco Alvarez would go a long way in fixing that in 2026.
Feb 17, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez looks on during spring training at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images For as much of the talk about last year’s collapse was understandably focused on pitching, the bottom of the New York Mets ’ lineup and the black hole that it was certainly did not help.
The 23-year-old is healthy and on the precipice of building off the momentum he was able to wrench from the abyss of multiple injury stints last season, and the lingering effects that ultimately resulted in a demotion to Triple-A. Upon his return from Syracuse on July 21 , he batted .276 with a .921 OPS, eight home runs, and 21 RBI. He has been a force this spring after starting late due to load management. In 21 at-bats, he is batting .381 with a 1.107 OPS, one home run, and four RBI — as good a sign as manager Carlos Mendoza could possibly get.“I like the rhythm at the plate,” Mendoza said. “When he’s on time for the fastball, he’s a dangerous hitter. There’s been some really good takes, and overall, physically, he feels good. That’s where it starts, with him being healthy. So I like where he’s at offensively, and we have to keep it that way.” This new Mets lineup, in theory, looks like an imposing unit even after losing Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo. Bo Bichette has been one of the top natural hitters in the American League before signing with New York this winter, and the team is betting on a healthy Luis Robert Jr. rediscovering his All-Star form of 2023 to properly complement Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto. A well-rounded lineup, though, goes a long way in taking the same kind of pressure that was placed on the top four or five batters all throughout 2025. The Mets’Joe Pantorno Joe Pantorno has been the executive sports editor of amNewYork since 2020. He covers the New York Mets and is a member of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America . He is also a member of the Pro Hockey Writers’ Association and has covered the New York Islanders for nearly a decade. His previous stops include Bleacher Report and Metro New York, while his work has been featured in the New York Post, Newsday, and Yahoo! Sports.Bad Bunny lookalike contest brings energy back to the HubQuarter-centuryBad Bunny lookalike contest brings energy back to the HubBREAKING: Massive rooftop fire in Midtown Manhattan just blocks away from St. Patrick’s Day Parade routeGay City News
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