The Mets were at the doorstep of glory—just two wins away from the World Series. But they fell short in the NLCS and were never let in, left to watch from home as another team lifted the trophy. Francisco Alvarez took it especially hard. Losing when you never had a chance is one thing. But losing when you were that close? That hits differently. It makes you rethink everything: your role, your impact, every tiny little decision. Those thoughts could’ve eaten him up. But Álvarez chose a different path.

The Mets’ postseason run was a rollercoaster. From 11 games under .500 to grabbing a Wild Card spot, they fought their way back up. And a dominant 12-6 win in Game 5 at Citi Field kept their World Series dream alive. Just one more win, and they’d make it to Game 7.  And then, whoosh! The rollercoaster dropped. Their dream ended with a 10-5 loss to the Dodgers in Game 6 at Dodger Stadium – just two games away from the world stage. Now that… Alvarez could have taken it personally; in Game 3, a wrong throw to second base cost the Mets a key inning. 

However, it’s not about how you go down, but how you come back up. The Mets’ heartbreaking NLCS exit could have weighed anyone down, but instead, Francisco Alvarez took the last season as a lesson. He switched up his approach—especially mentally.

In an interview with SNY, reporter Steve Gelbs asked what Álvarez had learned about himself last year. “The mental part is very important,” Alvarez said brightly. “We can strike out three times in a row, but we got to think about the next pitch,” he explained. “I can’t hit a homer, but [that] is in the past. I got another at-bat coming. I got a next day coming.” But hold up, mindset shift isn’t just talk. We are seeing the results firsthand.

The Venezuelan powerbat is determined to bounce back. In the off-season, he was at Atlanta’s Maven Baseball Lab, a facility recommended by teammate, J.D. Martinez. There, he adjusted his swing and stance to fix his habit of pulling off the ball too often. With this aim in mind: becoming a more complete hitter. “I changed my stand. I changed my swing. So it’s going to look way different than last year,” Alvarez added, “I got to believe in everything I’m doing now.” 

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza noticed Alvarez’s adjustments and said, “I think there’s rhythm now, there’s a better base.” Adding on he said, “The gather, the load. He’s getting himself in a better position.” Furthermore, Alvarez took notes from fellow players about building a strong mindset. “Next pitch, next move,” was Jeremy Peña’s advice that stuck with him. The heavy hitter’s newfound mental strength has kept him locked in and hustling. This season will show if his recently sharpened skills will pay off.

But Alvarez is not the only one putting in the work. The team won’t be left behind by him. In a bid to switch things up this season, the front office have revamped their roster, landing Juan Soto on a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million deal to bolster their offense. The Mets are set to kick off their 2025 season on March 27 against the Astros, with a home opener against the Blue Jays on April 4. But through all of last season’s baggage on and off the field, will Alvarez find confidence in himself and his team again? 

Álvarez rebuilds confidence in himself and the Mets

Last season was a tough ride for Francisco Alvarez. The Mets losing a chance at the World Series just two wins away wasn’t the young catcher’s only setback in 2024. A thumb injury that required surgery in early 2024 messed up his rhythm right off the bat. He was limited to a .237 batting average, 11 home runs, and 47 RBIs over 100 games. And just as he was regaining his momentum, a back injury affected his performance even more. His power numbers dropped, and his presence in the field wasn’t as dominant as expected.

Even with the personal setbacks, The Mets’ Future Wall took control of what he could: his mindset. Alvarez’s confidence now is unshakable. In a recent interview, Alvarez made a bold statement about the Mets’ potential, saying, “I think we are the best lineup in the whole baseball.” Another key Mets player, Mark Vientos echoed the self-belief, going along with his teammate’s sentiment and answered some reporters, “I can agree with that, honestly.” His confidence is largely based on David Stearns and Steve Cohen’s skills to “put together a pretty good lineup.” Backing up their players’ faith in the Mets’ potential, manager Carlos Mendoza has a “pretty good idea” of how he would arrange their batting order.

With that kind of confidence, in himself and the Mets, paired with his mental breakthrough, Francisco Alvarez is sure to turn things around. He’s putting in the work, and for the Mets’ Firestarter, anything less than a winning season isn’t an option.