Mets option slumping C Francisco Alvarez to Triple-A

Once a highly touted prospect, New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday in the wake of his offensive struggles this season.

Alvarez, 23, baseball's No. 1 prospect in 2022 who hit 25 home runs as a rookie in 2023, is hitting just .236 with three homers and 11 RBIs in 35 games this season.

In a corresponding move, the Mets recalled Hayden Senger to serve as the backup to starter Luis Torrens.

After making a splash as a 21-year-old rookie, Alvarez has been hampered by multiple wrist and hand injuries and regressed last year.

In parts of four seasons with the Mets since debuting in 2022, Alvarez is a .223 hitter with 40 homers and 122 RBIs in 263 games.

The 28-year-old Senger made his major league debut this season with the Mets, appearing in 13 games and hitting .179 in 28 at-bats.