Francisco Alvarez, Photo by Ed Delany of MMN
Heading into this Spring Training, New York Mets top prospect Francisco Alvarez made headlines when he said he wanted to make it to the majors this season. He’s backing up that bold talk.
In the eighth inning of the Mets Spring Training game against the Miami Marlins, Alvarez faced off against Aneurys Zabala. Both Zabala and the scoreboard lost:
ALL THE ANGLES OF FRANCISCO ÁLVAREZ'S MOONSHOT pic.twitter.com/hkshf7cDiB
— SNY (@SNYtv) March 25, 2022
It was a 98.7 MPH fastball which went out faster than it came traveling 441′ until it hit the Clover Field scoreboard. This is exactly why you watch Spring Training games. You get to see the future of the Mets do the exact type of things which has him rated as a top ten prospect.
After the game, Mets manager Buck Showalter said, “That was a big boy home run right there.” He also commented how loud the shot was.
Buck Showalter says Francisco Álvarez can't wear the PitchCom wristband because it won't fit around his forearm 💪
On his mammoth home run: "That was loud" pic.twitter.com/7rWbHjcYPI
— SNY (@SNYtv) March 25, 2022
During the press conference, Showalter also commented on the size of Alvarez’s forearms. To wit, he noted they’re so big they can’t fit the PitchCom wristband over them.
According to the PitchCom website, it’s a “proprietary push-button, player-wearable transmitter that allows players on the field to communicate plays to each other without using physical signs or verbal communication.”
The mammoth home run and the large forearms are reminiscent of Mike Piazza. Notably, Keith Law of The Athletic had previously dropped a Piazza comp on Alvarez.
Ultimately, this is the type of homer we may be talking about for years to come. If Alvarez truly is who we all think he is this homer was one of those he arrived moments.
As noted, Alvarez said he wanted to be in the majors in 2022. Seeing a homer like that, you certainly have to believe that is a possibility.
