New York Mets Rookie Catcher Joins Special Baseball History with Home Run on Saturday

New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez hit a home run on Saturday as the Mets beat the San Francisco Giants, joining some serious company in baseball history.

The New York Mets beat the San Francisco Giants on Saturday, 4-1, at Citi Field.

The Mets had just four hits, including three solo homers, in the victory, which moved them to 37-46.

Rookie catcher Francisco Alvarez homered, as did Brandon Nimmo and star shortstop Francisco Lindor. 

With his homer, Alvarez joined a special club in baseball history.

Per Sarah Langs of MLB.com on Twitter:

most HR in age-21 season or younger, AL/NL catchers: 

1969 Johnny Bench: 26 

1973 Darrell Porter: 16 

1968 Johnny Bench: 15 

2023 Francisco Alvarez: 13

most HR in age-21 season or younger, AL/NL catchers:

1969 Johnny Bench: 26
1973 Darrell Porter: 16
1968 Johnny Bench: 15
2023 Francisco Alvarez: 13

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) July 1, 2023

While Alvarez's .217 batting average isn't much to look at, if you are in the same category as Johnny Bench, you've done something impressive. The Mets season has been incredibly frustrating, but Alvarez has been a bright spot. In addition to the 13 homers, he's got 27 RBI, providing much-needed pop out of the bottom of the order.

After a brief call-up a season ago, he's a .214 lifetime hitter with 14 homers and 28 RBI.

The win put the Mets at 18.5 games out of first place at the time of this posting. The wild card hopes are fading fast for New York as well, as they currently sit 9.0 games back there.

It's been a season far removed from what Mets fans thought. The team pictured itself as a World Series contender after an offseason that saw them sign Justin Verlander.

Verlander held up his end of the bargain on Saturday, getting the win by throwing seven innings, allowing an unearned run and striking out six.

The two teams play again on Sunday at 7:10 p.m. ET.

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