Starling Marte is not the only question-riddled righty slugger with a sky-high ceiling the Mets are trusting for the postseason.
Five major league games was all Francisco Alvarez required to prove to the club he belonged on the playoff roster.
The Mets’ top prospect was carried as a third catcher and a bat off the bench. And Alvarez was manager Buck Showalter’s first righty pinch-hitter Friday when, with runners on the corners against Padres righty Luis Garcia, he struck out in the ninth inning to end the 7-1 loss at Citi Field.
Alvarez became the youngest Met ever to appear in a postseason game at 20 years old and 322 days, besting the 21-year, 64-day-old Gregg Jefferies in 1988. Alvarez could be the starting designated hitter for Game 2 on Saturday night against lefty Blake Snell.
Showalter said the fact the Padres were carrying four lefty relievers, including dominant closer Josh Hader, influenced the decision to give Alvarez a chance.
Francisco Alvarez reacts after striking out in the ninth inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post“It allows us to do some things earlier,” the Mets manager said, referring to pinch-hitting.
Alvarez was summoned on Sept. 30 to make his Mets debut in Atlanta, but the power hitter went 0-for-7 in that series and appeared overeager, swinging at the first pitch in each of his at-bats.
On Tuesday, though, Alvarez connected for his first major league hit — a home run — before doubling in the same game against the Nationals. A day later, he walked twice in four plate appearances, and the Mets began to see improved at-bats.
“He’s handled himself well. I really liked his selectiveness the last couple games,” Showalter said before Garcia used two sliders and a sinker to punch out Alvarez. “It’ll get sped back up again, but he’s going to be a good one. Just a matter of when.”
Showalter declined to reveal whether Alvarez would get the nod Saturday against Snell, but said he is “certainly a good option.” A lineup that does not have much pop could gamble on a hitter who slugged 27 home runs in 495 plate appearances between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse this season.
The Mets, who left Mark Vientos off the playoff roster, could turn to Alvarez or Darin Ruf, whose stint on the injured list prompted the call-up of Alvarez. Ruf, who the Mets said had a strained neck, has been activated.
“He’s been taking some at-bats for a while, the last four or five days,” Showalter said of Ruf, who has been woeful as a Met, but is 3-for-7 with three walks and a home run lifetime against Snell.
