Success of this NY Mets player becomes more crucial with Pete Alonso likely gone

The New York Mets and Pete Alonso are heading for a messy split, with the divorce papers reportedly in the works. Pete gets the home runs, some Mets fans keep the heartache, and the details of sharing custody of Mr. Met are getting ironed out. While David Stearns will be busy navigating the trade market and free-agent waters, the Mets’ success in 2025 won’t just come from outside help—it’ll require players within the organization to step up. And yes, Francisco Álvarez, that spotlight isn’t just hovering—it’s locked firmly on you.

Heading into his third full season with the Amazins, the 23-year-old backstop faces a clear challenge to build on his promising rookie campaign. At the top of his “things to avoid” list is missing time due to dings and setbacks. In 2022, a right ankle injury in Triple-A Syracuse put his Mets debut on hold for three weeks. Fast forward to 2024, where a torn thumb ligament required surgery and sidelined him for months, followed by shoulder and back issues that had him playing musical chairs with the lineup card. For Álvarez, staying healthy in 2025 isn’t just a goal, it’s non-negotiable.

Whether it was the injuries or the league catching on, Mets fans saw Alvarez take a step back in the power department during the 2024 campaign.

By the end of his rookie season, he had posted solid power numbers for a rookie catcher: a .721 OPS, a .422 xSLG, 25 homers, and 63 RBIs over 123 games and 382 at-bats. Even more impressive, his 12.8% Barrel Rate and 45.1% Hard Hit Rate placed him in the 84th and 72nd percentiles, respectively, among MLB hitters. But in 2024, those numbers fell off. His OPS dipped to .710, his xSLG plummeted to .358, and he managed just 11 home runs and 47 RBIs in 100 games and 308 at-bats. Meanwhile, his Barrel and Hard-Hit rates dropped to 6.7% and 42.0%, good for only the 32nd and 62nd percentiles. It’s a tale of two seasons—and a reminder that the sophomore slump can hit even the most promising talents.

Despite the setbacks, there’s plenty of reason to believe that Francisco Álvarez has the tools, the drive, and the time to turn it around in 2025 and reclaim his status as one of the league’s most dangerous young hitters. With little to no competition for playing time, he enters the season as the Mets’ undisputed primary catcher. Year-over-year improvements in his Whiff, Strikeout, Chase, and Walk percentages show that his plate discipline has taken a clear step forward. And when it comes to hitting fastballs, he showed impressive power in 2024, slugging .493 off four-seamers, .473 off sinkers, and a jaw-dropping .800 off cutters, all three accounting for 51.9% of the pitches he faced. Now, we need the Mets to adjust their pitching machine settings to ‘off-speed’ so he can make the right adjustments.

As Álvarez heads into 2025, the pressure is on, but the potential is undeniable. With the Mets facing a power void in their lineup, he has the chance to be the steady hand they desperately need. The road ahead won’t be without its bumps, but if he can stay healthy and make the necessary adjustments, he could be the key to solidifying the Mets’ place as true championship contenders. After all, in the world of New York baseball, a little bit of power and a clean bill of health can go a long way. Here’s hoping Álvarez has both in 2025.