Francisco Alvarez doing what Mets asked with ‘phenomenal’ minor league stint

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Francisco Alvarez is thriving in a minor league uniform, perhaps leaving open only the question of when he will return to the Mets. 

The catcher homered for a third time in two games on Sunday for Triple-A Syracuse, where he owns a 1.196 OPS in July.

It has also been noted by Mets officials that pitching prospect Brandon Sproat’s consecutive superb starts occurred with Alvarez behind the plate. 

Alvarez was optioned by the Mets to Syracuse on June 22 to work on all aspects of his game. 

“It’s the work ethic, since Day 1 — how positive he has been,” manager Carlos Mendoza said before the Mets lost 3-2 to the Royals. “Everything has been phenomenal. He is doing everything we are asking him to do, and he continues to put himself in a position where like, ‘Hey, you know I am here.’ ” 

Asked if Alvarez was a candidate for recall immediately after the All-Star break, Mendoza said he would be discussing the topic with president of baseball operations David Stearns.