In a cruel twist of fate, the raking Francisco Alvarez is headed to the IL with a right thumb injury, as Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported
this afternoon. Alvarez suffered the injury during Sunday night’s Little League Classic in Williamsport, sliding headfirst into second base to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning. Alvarez stayed in the game for the remainder of the inning before being replaced by Luis Torrens.The 23-year-old Alvarez previously dealt with hand injuries throughout
2023, underwent left thumb surgery in April 2024, and missed the opening weeks of this season with a broken hamate bone. This IL stint comes at a brutal time for a former top prospect searching for sustained success in his young major league career. Since returning from the minors on July 21, Alvarez has performed up to his long-promised potential, hitting .323/.408/.645 with 11 extra-base hits in 62 at-bats and driving the ball to right field with authority (including on the double which led to his injury). Any time away from the diamond brings with it a fear that the revitalized catcher may slip out of his hot streak.
Alvarez’s current timetable is currently unclear. In his absence, Torrens is slated to once again occupy the Mets’ starting catcher role. Hayden Senger seems a likely option to be recalled from Triple-A Syracuse for the backup spot on the major league roster.
