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Mets call up Francisco Alvarez, baseball’s No. 1 prospect, for MLB debut Friday

The Mets are adding a promising prospect to their lineup ahead of a key NL East series

By Brian Murphy_UCF
Syracuse Mets v Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Francisco Alvarez #19 of the Syracuse Mets in action during a game against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs at Coca-Cola Park on August 2, 2022 in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Alvarez is the number one ranked prospect in the New York Mets organization.
Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images

There is already plenty of intrigue and excitement surrounding the three-game series between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves, which begins tonight in Atlanta.

Well, the Mets have added a little more spice to the showdown. New York has promoted the game’s No. 1 overall prospect, Francisco Alvarez, to make his MLB debut tonight. Alvarez is in the lineup, batting seventh as the designated hitter versus Braves ace Max Fried.

A short scouting report: Power. Lots of it. The 230-pound Alvarez, a catcher by trade, has socked 51 home runs and 92 extra-base hits over the past two seasons. He crushed 18 homers in just 61 games at Double-A Binghamton, where he also logged a .537 slugging percentage and a .904 OPS against left-handed pitchers.

His success against lefties is one reason why the Mets have deemed today as the day for Alvarez’s debut. However, spending your debut facing Fried, who will get plenty of Cy Young votes this year, is no easy task.

Still, as the Mets and Braves vie for NL East supremacy inside Truist Park this weekend, stars will be all over the diamond. Jacob deGrom, Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, Ronald Acuna Jr., Austin Riley, Matt Olson, etc. Now, MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 prospect will also be on the big stage. It should all make for a fun few days in Atlanta.

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