Baty, Álvarez Come In Clutch vs. Atlanta

The New York Mets lost two of three games against the Atlanta Braves last weekend, and there were some negatives to digest about the team. The current starting pitching struggles to complete six innings, everyone not named David Robertson is suspect in the bullpen, and the Mets may need a retractable roof. However, although the Mets got knocked around by the Braves, there was one positive—the kids are here to stay.

Brett Baty and Francisco Álvarez settled in against the Mets’ division rivals, fueling the offense and doing damage from the bottom of the lineup. Baty shined in both games of Monday’s doubleheader, going 2-for-5 in Game 1 with a solo home run, and 1-for-4 in Game 2 with a double and run scored. Álvarez was the catalyst of game two, clubbing a go-ahead two-run double in the seventh inning that led the Mets to victory.

The performances from the Mets’ two top prospects have been encouraging, and most importantly, much needed. Eduardo Escobar‘s struggles have been highlighted all season long (though he’s performed better as a pinch hitter), and Tomás Nido hasn’t recorded an extra-base hit in 45 at-bats. The main talking point for playing Escobar and Nido was defense, but Baty and Álvarez have proven they are more than capable on that side of the ball. In a short sample size, Baty has been worth one out about average at third base, and Álvarez is in the 92nd percentile for pitch framing.

One month’s sample size is more than enough for the Mets’ to make drastic changes. Baty has proven he can handle MLB pitching and needs to start every day. The 23-year-old has an average exit velocity of 93.6 miles per hour, a 57.7 hard hit percentage, and a .919 OPS—the highest among Mets’ players who have at least 42 plate appearances. Baty’s power potential is exactly what this Mets’ lineup lacked, and his two home runs are tied for fourth on the team.

The same goes for Álvarez behind the plate. The former No. 1 overall prospect has had better at-bats in his given opportunities, and he went 3-for-6 against the Braves last weekend. Álvarez has also performed in the clutch this year, clubbing a go-ahead home run against the Giants in San Francisco, and smacking a go-ahead double against the Braves on Monday. Those two hits are the only extra-base hits recorded by Mets catchers in 2023, and more will come from Álvarez if he receives more at-bats.

Meanwhile, Nido hasn’t provided any value through April. The 29-year-old is slashing .111/.146/.111/.257 and has a -27 OPS+ — keep in mind that a 100 OPS+ qualifies a hitter as average. His defense hasn’t been lengths better than Álvarez’s either.

If the Mets are serious about winning, then Baty and Álvarez need to be in the lineup every day. The Dodgers, Diamondbacks, and Rangers have utilized their young prospects, and all three of those teams have been rewarded for it with James Outman, Corbin Carroll, and Josh Jung. The Mets need to mirror the other teams in MLB and set their top prospects up to succeed.

Baty in particular needs to be utilized better. The third baseman could be a key piece in the Mets’ offense if he batted higher than eighth. The Mets desperately need production in their lineup after Pete Alonso, and Baty could benefit from batting behind him. New York has used Daniel Vogelbach and Mark Canha in the fifth spot this season, but the two of them haven’t been consistent power bats. They both have slugging percentages under .400 and would benefit from batting at the bottom of the order with their high on-base percentages.

This is just the beginning for Baty and Álvarez. April was just a drop in the ocean, and the development of two Top 100 MLB prospects is unfolding before our eyes. If the Mets handle them both correctly, the Mets could see their best homegrown position players since, Alonso, David Wright and José Reyes.