12 Days of Prospects: Day 1, Francisco Alvarez
It’s been a long year, but now, we’re finally in December. It’s time to get jolly and let’s do it by talking about some prospects. We all know the Christmas carol “Twelve Days of Christmas,” and this series is going to be a parody of that. For the next 12 days, we’ll highlight MLB’s top 12 prospects before it changes after the 2022 year ends. For day one, we’re going to look at the No. 1 prospect in baseball, catcher Francisco Alvarez.
The Numbers
Scouting grades on a 20-80 scale:
- Hit: 55
- Power: 70
- Run: 40
- Arm: 60
- Field: 50
- Overall: 65
Alvarez made his debut in October, so he’ll graduate from his prospect status next year. Regardless, his numbers speak for themselves and show why he’s the top prospect in baseball.
There’s no question about that 70-ranked power that helped him hit 27 home runs in 2022 between Double-A, Triple-A and the majors. Nine of his first 15 hits in Triple-A were for extra bases, five of them being home runs.
The only thing holding Alvarez back from his full potential is his defense. His framing and blocking is a work in progress with the organization, and while he has strong arm, he doesn’t have the accuracy yet. Between Double-A and Triple-A this year, he allowed 77 stolen bases and only threw out 30 runners attempting to steal.
The Potential
Catchers usually take a lot of time to develop, and being only 20 years old he has that time. His bat is going to do wonders in the major leagues, already expected to be a future All-Star and Home Run Derby champion.
James McCann said the way Alvarez swings the bat is similar to first baseman Pete Alonso, who hit 53 home runs in his rookie season. Alvarez is going to be a guy who hits 30-40 plus home runs every year with insane ISO (Isolated power) and OPS numbers. Even if the defense doesn’t work out, the bat will keep him as a full-time DH batting somewhere in the four through six hole in the lineup.
The Verdict
We don’t see catchers in the No. 1 spot very often, but Alvarez is more than deserving of it. He’s going to be one of the top players in the league in a few years and the Mets won’t have to worry about their catching situation for a very long time. The defense will most likely be average at best, and he’ll most likely be splitting time between catcher and DH. Regardless, this is a kid to be excited about if you’re a baseball fan.
