3 NY Mets players who've held the team back most through the first 81 games

3) Francisco Alvarez

A revamped swing and a commitment to improving in pitch calling and defense, all signs pointed once again to Francisco Alvarez finally having that breakout year fans have been yearning for. Since getting an early taste of his raw power and prowess during his years rising through the minor league ranks, that talent level has never been on full display on the professional ball club for a prolonged fashion due to early-season injuries that appear to slow his development and any momentum he was accruing.

To see another member of the latest wave of young, high-ceiling Mets talent make this list certainly raises concern about what could be inhibiting the franchise’s top prospects from translating its solid results in the big leagues. The Mets' opting to demote Alvarez on Sunday speaks volumes about where they believe the 23-year-old backstop is both mechanically and mentally. Compared to his roster counterparts, the sample size has been much smaller, playing in 35 of the first half-season of contests. Still, the lower quantity has been riddled with on-the-field lapses, questionable pitch calls, and overall lack of confidence at the plate. Enormous responsibility falls on the 23-year-old’s shoulders in managing a developmental pitching staff while providing some length to the bottom of a starting lineup that has underperformed immensely.

And whether his hitting struggles have been directly affecting his fielding, Alvarez has been the one player on the 2025 Mets so far who has not been a complete player at all. Who knows? By the season’s end, the Mets’ young backstop could become one of the major pieces that surged the Queens battalion to a successful last 81 games of the season.