The catchers weren’t catching, but Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens both made starts Wednesday for Navegantes del Magallanes in the Venezuelan Winter League.
Alvarez went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts as the designated hitter, and Torrens played first base and went 1-for-4 with an RBI in a 6-4 win over the Tigres de Aragua. Alvarez was playing his first VEWL game, and Torrens is 3-for-18 in five contests. Retired Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina is the Navegantes manager.
Alvarez, 24, hit .233/.311/.399 with 16 homers and 43 RBIs in 113 games for the Mets this year. Fellow Venezuelan Torrens, 30, hit .235/.295/.396 with nine homers and 41 RBIs in 91 games. Like Torrens, Alvarez is expected to play some first base in the VEWL. If either of the two can show the ability to play first, they could get into the mix next year. Jared Young and Brett Baty are left-handed hitters, Jorge Polanco‘s health is TBD, and Mark Vientos could be released.
In the Arizona Fall League, Bruin Agbayani went 0-for-3 with a run scored, two walks and two strikeouts in a 13-2 win for Surprise (11-8) over Mesa. The 19-year-old infielder is 4-for-37 in 11 AFL games.
Top Met prospect Jefferson Rojas did not play in his team’s Dominican Winter League game on Wednesday. He is 6-for-24 with two homers, two doubles and two stolen bases in seven games.
