Mets catcher depth chart from the top down to the bottom

Francisco Alvarez

Taking this all into consideration, the master plan that Cohen and Alderson have becomes clear. The vision is for McCann, Nido, and company to hold down the fort until the team’s second-ranked prospect, Francisco Alvarez, is ready to take over.

Alvarez, a 19-year-old international signing in 2018, has quickly become one of the most promising catching prospects in all of baseball. He currently ranks as the fourth-best catching prospect in the league, and with three estimated to hit the majors in 2021, Alvarez could reach the top spot by next season.

Now, why is Alvarez the 48th ranked prospect in Major League Baseball? Why it is because of his fantastic defense and knowledge of the game.

Alvarez is a phenomenal defender with a strong arm, and one that if his offensive game continues to develop can be the young, complete catcher the team has been searching for. In 2019, Alvarez hit seven home runs, batted in 26 runs, with a .312 batting average and .407 on-base percentage in only 182 plate appearances.

It is easy to see where the hype surrounding Alvarez comes from. He has the tools to be an elite defender, and a very good hitter, all while only having played in 42 games in the organization.

The future of the catching position is in his hands, and it is clear that the Mets plan to have McCann and Nido help ease him into the majors. Both are under contract through 2024, meaning that the catching position will be Alvarez’s sooner than later.

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Ultimately, it is clear that the Mets are in a fantastic position both now and in the future at catcher.