Rookies giving Mets’ lineup a boost: GM Billy Eppler

At least some of the Mets’ offseason plans were based on the belief that they would be getting some help for the lineup from their prospects.

Now that it’s June, that’s proving to be the case and general manager Billy Eppler credited the youthful trio of Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty and Mark Vientos for providing much-needed offense.

“I’m happy to see the lineup catching some footing,’’ Eppler said before the Mets lost 3-0 to the Blue Jays on Friday night at Citi Field. “There are some veteran guys, but also the kids.”

Alvarez has hit — and caught — well enough to get regular playing time, and the Mets will have decisions to make when Omar Narvaez is able to come back from the strained calf he suffered in April. Narvaez is on a minor league rehab assignment and could return next week.

The Mets said they haven’t made a decision about whether they will keep three catchers on the 26-man roster when Narvaez comes back, but they haven’t ruled it out.

Alvarez, who started behind the plate again on Friday, with Tomas Nido on the bench, entered Friday hitless in his last nine at-bats, but with eight homers this season. The rookie also has impressed the pitching staff — and Eppler — with his defense.

“Some of the questions I got [about Alvarez] were surrounding his receiving ability,’’ Eppler said. “He’s done a tremendous job presenting pitches. He inspires a lot of confidence in pitchers throwing to him. The way he’s able to receive the baseball, call the game and the energy he plays with is evident to everybody.”

But even Eppler, who was confident in the 21-year-old’s abilities, said the short amount of time it has taken Alvarez to get accustomed to the major league game has been surprising.

“There’s always an acclimation period, but to see him do it this quick is really impressive,’’ Eppler said.

Fellow rookie Baty was in the lineup on Friday, hitting fifth, while the righty-hitting Vientos was the DH against Toronto right-hander Chris Bassitt, with lefty-swinging Daniel Vogelbach on the bench.

Eppler said he wouldn’t use the “Baby Mets’’ term that has become popular to describe the trio of young players.

“Babies have to be taken care of all the time,’’ Eppler said. “Kids can run around on their own and feel their own way.”

And Eppler said the organization’s confidence that they would contribute allowed them to focus on pitching in the offseason. They’ve helped spark an offense that has pleased Eppler lately with added power and more scoring.

With Alvarez and Baty getting regular playing time and Vientos starting against a righty, it seems fair to wonder how their presence will impact some veteran players.

“We always want to put the team in the best position to win as many games as possible,’’ Eppler said. “If that comes from kids coming up from Triple-A [Syracuse], if that comes from the veteran group that’s here, we want to put the team in the best position to succeed. We’re encouraged by how those kids have done since they’ve come up here and we’re encouraged by what we’ve witnessed from the veteran players in their mentoring.”