PHILADELPHIA — The Mets optioned Francisco Alvarez largely because the former No. 1 prospect in the sport has not performed, and the club believes the 23-year-old needs everyday reps to straighten himself out.
But they also optioned Alvarez because they have Luis Torrens.
One of the more impressive backup catchers in the game no longer is a backup catcher, Torrens given the reins officially Sunday when Alvarez was sent to Triple-A Syracuse.
The feel-good story of Torrens — a Rule 5 pick who spent all of the 2017 season barely playing while in the majors with the Padres, who snuck him onto their roster despite the fact he had not even reached Double-A ball yet, which began a wandering career that has found a home in Queens — now carries real expectations.
With light-hitting Hayden Senger behind him, Torrens will be asked to carry a heavier load.
“I’m going to continue to do my job the way that I’ve been doing it,” Torrens said through interpreter Alan Suriel after the 7-1 loss to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
Torrens’ playing time already had nudged ahead of Alvarez’s after a strong showing last year — after the late May trade that helped him escape Yankees purgatory with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre — and his excellent glove and good-enough bat have impressed.
Torrens’ accurate arm and elite pop time have made him the most difficult catcher to steal bases against, Torrens throwing out nine of 21 potential base thieves this season.
He carries a reputation as a strong pitch framer, and Mets pitchers have loved throwing to him. He entered play with a 2.79 catcher ERA, which ranked fourth among catchers who had seen regular time.
“That’s something that I’ve been working on since the offseason,” Torrens said of his defense as a whole. “To be able to put those into actual games, it feels good. That’s what we work for.”
And he has hit enough.
“In reality,” manager Carlos Mendoza said in explaining the Alvarez demotion, “Luis has continued to earn playing time.”
Torrens’ bat has been better than average for a catcher and interesting metrically.
He is hitting just .227 after an 0-for-3 night, but he entered play with an expected batting average of .312, a reflection of his making the most solid contact in his career and making strides in being more selective at the plate. Perhaps he has been unlucky.
He will be able to accrue a much larger sample size to see if his traditional numbers catch up to his advanced numbers.
Torrens was asked if playing just about every day can be helpful for his swing.
“Yes, of course,” he said in Spanish with a smile.
