The New York Mets have recently been dealt a significant blow with the news that their young catcher, Francisco Álvarez, will miss 6-8 weeks due to a fractured hamate bone in his left hand. This injury occurred during live batting practice, marking the second consecutive season that Álvarez will be sidelined for an extended period.
Manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed that Álvarez will undergo surgery to address the fracture. Given Álvarez’s role as a catcher and the nature of the injury to his glove hand, the team anticipates that he will require the full eight weeks to recover. This timeline suggests that Álvarez may return to the Mets’ lineup in early May.
This setback follows a challenging 2024 season for the 22-year-old Álvarez, during which he missed seven weeks due to a torn ligament in his left thumb. He sustained that injury in April 2024 after slipping while rounding first base. Álvarez underwent surgery and returned to action in June. Over the course of the 2024 season, he played in 100 games, posting a .237 batting average with 11 home runs and 47 RBIs.
In Álvarez’s absence, veteran catcher Luis Torrens is expected to assume the starting role. Torrens, who joined the Mets in a trade with the Yankees last May, appeared in 47 games during the 2024 season. He posted a .229 batting average with three home runs and 15 RBIs. Torrens has expressed his readiness to embrace the “huge responsibility” of filling in for Álvarez to begin the year.
The Mets’ catching depth is further supported by Chris Williams, Hayden Senger, and Jakson Reetz. Williams, 27, offers offensive potential, having hit 17 home runs for the Twins’ Triple-A affiliate in 2024. Senger, also 27, played 48 games for Triple-A Syracuse last season, achieving a .725 OPS. Reetz, 28, has MLB experience with the Giants and Nationals, and notably hit a grand slam in a spring training game against the Nationals.
The timing of Álvarez’s injury is particularly challenging for the Mets, as he was expected to be a key contributor in the upcoming season. The team will need to rely on Torrens and the other catchers to maintain stability behind the plate and in the lineup during Álvarez’s absence.
