The New York Mets have sent catcher Francisco Alvarez to Triple-A Syracuse in a surprising move following a recent offensive showing. Despite hitting a majestic 452-foot homer in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Alvarez's overall performance this season has been underwhelming, marked by a mere .236 batting average and a .652 OPS through 35 games. This decision comes after he was activated from the injured list earlier in the season and missed games due to personal reasons. In his absence, Hayden Senger has been called up to serve as backup to Luis Torrens, who will take over as the primary catcher for the Mets.

Alvarez's rookie season last year was impressive, with 25 homers and a .721 OPS, but he has struggled to replicate that success this year. The Mets are currently in a tight race at the top of the NL East, sharing the position with the Phillies. This demotion may serve as a wake-up call for Alvarez as he looks to regain his form and return to the big leagues.