Francisco Alvarez was placed on the 10-day injured list after spraining the ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb while sliding into second base during the Little League World Classic on August 17. That injury will require surgery at the end of the season, but until then, the New York Mets catcher would be back to contribute to the team’s push toward the postseason, depending on his pain tolerance.
However, in his rehabilitation game, which was intended to determine the degree of progress in his recovery, Alvarez was injured again when he fractured his left little finger on Wednesday when an 89 mph sinker hit him in his third plate appearance. The Mets catcher went 2-1 with a double before leaving with doctors in the sixth inning. However, it seems that the player himself has requested that his return be before the playoffs.
What did the Mets manager say about the catcher’s injuries?
According to manager Carlos Mendoza, he mentioned that Francisco Alvarez will be in the Triple-A Syracuse lineup as a designated hitter this weekend. He added that the Mets catcher was “fine” after participating in a bullpen session and could be behind the plate for his next rehab game on Sunday, although he declined to provide a date for his return to the first team.
Alvarez stayed hot after his promotion, hitting .323 in 21 games before returning to the injured list. In 56 games with the New York Mets this season, he has recorded seven home runs and 24 RBIs. While the Queens infield awaits Alvarez’s return, they are relying on Luis Torrens and Hayden Senger as catchers. Torrens has started six of the last 11 games in Alvarez’s absence and will be back behind the plate on Saturday afternoon.
Francisco Alvarez’s injuries this year
Alvarez has a history of hand injuries. In early April 2024, he suffered a tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his left thumb, which required surgery and kept him out of action until June 11. He struggled to get going offensively on his return, but finished the regular season strongly, posting a 1.000 OPS with five home runs in his last 48 plate appearances.
This season has followed a similar pattern. Before his recent thumb and pinky injuries, Alvarez underwent surgery in early March for a fractured hamate bone in his left hand, which sidelined him for more than a month. He struggled both offensively and defensively upon his return, leading the Mets to send him to Triple-A to resume in late June.
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