The New York Mets have a power hitter batting ninth. That’s not a typo. Francisco Alvarez is doing the kind of damage you’d expect from a cleanup guy, but he’s been buried at the bottom of the order for most of this season. And after Thursday night in Philadelphia, interim manager Andy Green seems ready to rethink that.
Alvarez launched two home runs off Aaron Nola at Citizens Bank Park, a 416-foot solo shot in the third inning and a 363-footer in the seventh. Between those two swings, Brett Baty added his own homer, and the Mets beat the Phillies 3-0 to snap a three-game losing streak.
Green’s Honest Take on a 9-Hole Slugger
After the game, Green didn’t dance around the obvious. “As much power as you’re ever going to see in the 9-hole, probably means he doesn’t really belong in the 9-hole,” he told reporters.
That’s about as direct as you’ll get from a manager, interim or not. Alvarez has hit ninth in 17 games this season. He’s only hit third in five games and cleanup in two. For a guy turning 25 this year with that kind of pop — 24 homers already in 2026 — the ninth spot feels like a waste.
The Numbers Suggest a Move Up
There’s some data to back up the idea. When Alvarez has hit fifth in the order, he’s put up a .259 average with a .412 on-base percentage and .444 slugging, plus six walks in limited at-bats. It’s not a huge sample, but it’s enough to make you wonder what he could do with consistent protection around him.
Green didn’t commit to any changes yet. But the fact that he brought it up himself, unprompted, says a lot. The Mets are 41-57 and buried in the NL East. They’re not playing for October. But they are trying to figure out who belongs in their long-term plans. Alvarez, the young Venezuelan catcher, is one of those guys. Giving him more chances to drive in runs seems like the obvious move.
We’ll see if Green actually pulls the trigger. The Mets have a series in Washington this weekend, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Alvarez hitting fifth or sixth by Sunday.
Leave a Comment