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Try it freeKANSAS 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.
“The good thing is [Alvarez] is doing a lot of the things we are asking him to do,” Mendoza said.
“He’s watching the film and driving the ball to all fields and defensively there’s been a lot of improvement as well, whether it’s receiving, the blocking, we know the throwing has been there. A lot of good things are happening.”
José Buttó, who was placed on the injured list (retroactive to July 1) with an illness, is scheduled to pitch in a minor league rehab game on Tuesday for Single-A St. Lucie, according to Mendoza.
The right-hander will be evaluated afterward for a possible return to the Mets.
Max Kranick was examined Thursday and is deciding his next step — Tommy John surgery is a possibility, according to Mendoza.
Kranick was placed on the IL last month with a right elbow strain.
Mendoza is waiting until later in the week before announcing his starting pitching alignment coming out of the All-Star break.
Among the considerations for Friday’s game against the Reds are if David Peterson is used in the All-Star game and how Sean Manaea feels following his 65-pitch appearance on Sunday in his season debut.