The Mets’ search for quality catchers has been a famous pursuit in Queens for some time now. New York hopes they can address that hole at the big league level with Francisco Álvarez.

Álvarez is MLB Pipeline's No. 3 overall prospect. He tore up Double-A and Triple-A pitching last season, hitting 27 home runs with an .885 OPS before getting the call to the big leagues on Sept. 30, 2022. He slotted into the DH spot and batted seventh in his MLB debut.

Álvarez has already shown impressive power, hitting acumen and physical tools on defense -- all traits that have him projected as an above-average catcher in the Major Leagues. In a five-game stint with the Mets last season, the 21-year-old homered, doubled and scored three runs. He started two of those games behind the dish for New York and did not commit an error.

Here's what you need to know about this talented ballplayer from Guatire, Venezuela.

FAST FACTS
MLB organization: Mets
Birthdate: November 19, 2001 (Age 21 in 2023)
Primary position: C
Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 233 lbs.
Bats/throws: Right/Right
Hometown: Guatire, Venezuela
Signed: July 2, 2018 (by NYM)
MLB Debut: September 30, 2022

He’s already taken Earth’s best pitcher deep

Jacob deGrom’s rehab assignment in 2021 afforded the prospects at St. Lucie the chance to see the game’s best pitcher up close and personal, and, well, Álvarez really took advantage. Not only did New York’s top prospect get to catch deGrom for three innings during deGrom’s rehab start; he also homered off deGrom in a simulated game.

This apparently wasn’t just a fence-scraper; Álvarez reportedly walked away from the plate and admired the dinger over his shoulder as it banged off a light tower … in right field! Álvarez, remember, is a right-handed hitter.

"It felt like he had a good approach today," was the scouting report given by deGrom, who, it should be noted, struck the young catcher out in their second matchup. "Put a good swing on a first-pitch fastball."

So, for those scoring at home, check the box next to “homered off the most electric starting pitcher at age 19” for Álvarez.

Scouts say he’s the Mets' best pure hitting prospect

Álvarez set a Mets club record for international prospects when he signed for $2.7 million, but he's making that investment look smart so far. In spotlighting the best power hitting prospect in each club’s system, MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo and Sam Dykstra wrote, “His 51 homers over the last two seasons rank second among all Minor League catchers, and he achieved that total before his 21st birthday. In only a brief Major League callup, he posted a 108.9 mph exit velocity that led all Mets catchers in 2022, and all indications point to there being a lot more where that came from.”

If you kept up with Pipeline’s nightly top prospect roundups, you’re familiar with Álvarez. Álvarez tore it up at Double-A Binghamton with 18 homers in 67 games before getting the call to Triple-A, where he was starting to get comfortable before suffering a right ankle injury. Álvarez had a red-hot September for Syracuse after his return from the injury, slashing .362/.483/.596 with three home runs in 13 games while splitting time behind the dish and at designated hitting.

He hits the ball hard

Álvarez stands with a stocky 5-foot-10, 233-pound frame and possesses big hands and massive forearms that inspired children in Venezuela to call him “Troll." So, yeah, the man has some power. There were several reports out of Brooklyn in 2021 about Álvarez consistently lacing 100-plus mph balls into play, including a 112 mph double that would have already put him toward the top exit velocities on the Mets’ big league roster alongside names like Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor.

Is there anything more beautiful than a drive to the outfield fence with a Coney Island roller coaster whipping by behind it? Well, can we offer you this video of Álvarez clearing a row of palm trees as dessert?

If you watched the 2021 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, you saw that it only took Álvarez one at-bat to show off the power we're talking about. After putting on a show in pre-game batting practice, Álvarez came off the bench as a pinch-hitter in the sixth and laced a 103.7 mph homer. This ball needed only 3.8 seconds of hang time to clear the left-field fence at Coors Field.

His bat-flip game is already Major League ready

Close your eyes, Mets fans, and picture Álvarez up at the plate in the bottom of the ninth at Citi Field. Can you see him belting the walk-off home run, sending the crowd into a frenzy? Well, he’s already shown what his celebrations could look like, should he get that opportunity, and let’s just say it’s ready for prime time. Check out how long Álvarez held the bat for this go-ahead homer before giving us a fantastic bat-flip payoff.

He’s used to playing with the older kids

Álvarez was the Appalachian League’s youngest player when he debuted with Rookie-level Kingsport at the age of 17 in 2019, and all he did was hit .282/.377/.443 with an 11% walk rate and five home runs across 35 games. Álvarez then moved to the Gulf Coast League and crushed six extra-base hits (four doubles, two homers) with four walks across seven games there.

When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down Minor League ball last year, the Mets assigned the 18-year-old Álvarez to their alternate training site. He responded by outclassing any hitter at the site, per Pipeline.

He’s hoping to be the next great Venezuelan catcher

When it comes to producing quality Major League catchers, Venezuela doesn’t take a back seat to any country out there. Current stars Salvador Perez, Willson and William Contreras and Wilson Ramos all hail from the South American country, not to mention plenty of other accomplished backstops including Sandy León, Ramon Hernandez, Dioner Navarro, Robinson Chirinos, Manny Piña, Miguel Montero, Eddie Pérez, Yorvit Torrealba and Francisco Cervelli. 

Álvarez, who has played catcher since he was 12, is hoping to follow in the footsteps of all those great Venezeulan catchers. He has cited another one, former big leaguer Henry Blanco, as his own personal inspiration.

“I really like being a catcher because we’re involved with every pitch, with every play,” Álvarez told MLB.com’s Nathalie Alonso. “We’re involved with everything and that keeps me active in the game.”

He studies the greats

When the pandemic kept Álvarez from returning home to his family and even made working out during lockdown somewhat difficult, he turned to intense video study to pass the time. Per Baseball America, Álvarez studied video of catcher Christian Vázquez, Perez and, most of all, Phillies star J.T. Realmuto -- baseball’s top-paid backstop.

“The one I’d see the most was Realmuto, because he’s one of the best catchers in terms of framing and how to call pitches,” said Álvarez. “I feel like I’ve learned the game more. I’ve seen a lot of videos. I see how they work horizontally and vertically. All of the things on computers have helped me improve my game.”