Mets option top prospect Francisco Alvarez to Triple-A Syracuse to start season

PORT ST. LUCIE — Francisco Alvarez will start the season in Syracuse.

The Mets optioned their top overall prospect to Triple-A on Wednesday morning as well as sent catcher Nick Meyer to minor league camp. Brett Baty, the club’s second-ranked prospect, remains in Major League camp to compete for a spot on the Mets’ Opening Day roster.

The 21-year-old catcher showed flashes of the power tool he has long been known for but he didn’t exactly put up monster numbers in Grapefruit League play...