When the Binghamton Rumble Ponies announced that the Mets’ prospect big three of Francisco Álvarez, Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio would start their seasons at Double-A, the excitement among Mets fans was palpable.

The Mets’ top three prospects answered to the hype on Opening Day, batting 2-3-4 in the Rumble Ponies’ lineup in an 8-2 win over Hartford. Álvarez, making his Double-A debut, went 3-for-5 with a home run, two doubles, three RBIs and a run scored. Baty tallied a home run, a double, an RBI and two runs scored in five trips to the plate, and Mauricio added two singles with an RBI in five at-bats.

“I knew that [Álvarez] was going to come out here and put on a show, he has that within himself. He’s just a really, really special young talent and it was awesome to see that in his Double-A debut," said Baty over the phone after the game.

Baty, Pipeline's No. 27 overall prospect, started the scoring with an opposite-field solo shot in the first inning.

“I was just going up there and trying to stay within myself and it worked out. It’s set me up for the rest of the season,” said Baty. “It was awesome to go out there in my first AB and put a run up on the board, get the energy going.”

Then, Álvarez took over. The 20-year-old just missed a homer with his first double in the third, hitting a ball that bounced off the top of the center-field wall for his first career Double-A hit.

Álvarez, the No. 10 prospect in baseball, broke the game open in the fourth. He demolished a first-pitch 92 mph fastball well over the fence in left-center field for a three-run homer, giving Binghamton a 6-0 lead. Baty followed him with a double and scored on Mauricio’s single to cap a six-run inning for the Rumble Ponies.

“Watching him at the plate is something special. Luckily I get to hit behind him so I get to see him every single night," said Baty. “Even in the dugout, he’s awesome. He’s a great teammate, he always brings the energy.”

Leading off the sixth inning, Álvarez stayed with a breaking ball and drove it to the right-center gap to wind up with his second double of the night.

Together, Álvarez, Baty and Mauricio combined to go 7-for-15 with three doubles, two homers, five RBIs and three runs scored on Opening Day, accounting for the majority of Binghamton’s offense.

The Mets’ top three prospects played together last season for just under two months at High-A Brooklyn after Álvarez was called up on May 24. In 2021, Álvarez hit 24 homers with a .942 OPS, Baty had 35 extra-base hits with a .855 OPS between High-A and Double-A and Mauricio had 20 long balls with 64 RBIs in 108 games, receiving his callup to Double-A on Sept. 10.

“Having that chemistry out on the field is really unmatched. Being able to play with them throughout our whole Minor League careers has been awesome. We’ve really grown a special bond on and off the field," said Baty.