Feb 27, 2025; Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) runs to first base after hitting a single against the Houston Astros during the first inning at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

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Francisco Alvarez injury update: What happened to Francisco Alvarez? Latest update on Mets’ starting catcher

Mets' starting catcher will miss approximately eight weeks

The injury bug is not limited to the New York Yankees. For the second straight season, the New York Mets will be without Francisco Alvarez for an extended stretch, and this one stings just as much. The young catcher sustained a fracture in his left hand during a swing in live batting practice on Saturday, an injury that will keep him sidelined for approximately eight weeks.

New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez needs surgery to repair a fractured left hamate bone and will be out for six to eight weeks, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 9, 2025

“It’s a big blow when your starting catcher goes down,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Sunday at Clover Park. “But guys will step up. Guys will get opportunities, what we have in-house and I am sure [president of baseball operations] David [Stearns] will be looking outside. Nobody’s going to feel sorry for us. Everybody deals with injuries. We’ll get him back.”

Alvarez’s injury is particularly frustrating given his history. Last season, he suffered a torn UCL in his left thumb after slipping while rounding first base, an injury that required surgery and kept him out for nearly two months. Though he returned with a bang, his performance dipped in the second half, finishing with a .237/.307/.403 slash line, 11 home runs, and 47 RBIs.

Now, the Mets will have to rely on backup Luis Torrens as the primary catcher while Alvarez recovers. The team’s depth at the position includes Chris Williams, Hayden Senger, and Jakson Reetz as the remaining options in camp. Given the importance of Alvarez to the lineup, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Mets explore outside options to bolster the position.

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Alvarez won’t be the only key player starting the season on the injured list. He joins pitchers Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas, adding to the growing concerns for a Mets team looking to stay competitive in a tough division.

While Mendoza remains optimistic that Alvarez will be back in early May, losing a promising young catcher for such a long stretch is far from ideal.

Francisco Alvarez

Injury update

Mets

Mohsin Baldiwala

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Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.