The New York Mets’ 2025 season has hit another rough patch, and this time, it’s their star catcher Francisco Alvarez at the center of the storm. The 23-year-old suffered a fracture of the hamate bone in his left hand during a live batting practice session, requiring surgery and sidelining him indefinitely. This marks the second consecutive year Alvarez has faced a significant hand injury, leaving the Mets scrambling to fill the void.
As the team braces for his absence, manager Carlos Mendoza and the front office are left grappling with tough decisions—and even tougher questions about their depth behind the plate.
“A Familiar Blow: Alvarez’s Injury Leaves Mets Searching for Answers”
For Francisco Alvarez, the 2025 season is starting to feel like déjà vu. Just one year after tearing a ligament in his left thumb, the Mets’ starting catcher is back on the injured list—this time with a fractured hamate bone in the same hand. The injury, sustained during a live batting practice session on Saturday, will require surgery and leave the 23-year-old sidelined for the foreseeable future.
“It’s a big blow when your starting catcher goes down,” manager Carlos Mendoza admitted to reporters. “But the guys will step up. The guys will have opportunities.”
Alvarez’s absence is a gut punch for a Mets team already navigating choppy waters. Last season, the young catcher hit .237 with 11 home runs and 47 RBIs in 100 games, showcasing his potential as a cornerstone of the franchise. Now, for the second straight year, the Mets must find a way to weather the storm without him.
“It’s out, obviously, but it’s not the first time,” Mendoza said, referencing Alvarez’s 2024 thumb injury. “It’s a shame for him. He takes it personally and he takes it very badly; he cares. We’ll do everything we can to stay positive with him and get him back on the field as soon as possible.”
In Francisco Alvarez’s absence, the Mets will turn to Luis Torrens, a seven-year veteran who hit .229 with three home runs and 15 RBIs in 47 games last season. Backing him up will be a mix of Hayden Senger, Jakson Reetz, and Chris Williams, each vying for a spot on the roster.
“Senger is a really good defensive catcher, Reetzy has major league experience,” Mendoza noted. “These guys can handle a pitching staff, they can catch, so we feel good about it.”
Reetz made a strong case for himself on Sunday, hitting a grand slam in the Mets’ 7-6 exhibition win over Washington. But while the team believes in its depth, president of baseball operations David Stearns hinted at potential external reinforcements.
“Whenever a regular player gets hurt, you’ll see what’s out there,” Stearns said. “But we don’t anticipate this being an extremely prolonged injury.”
For now, the Mets are left hoping Francisco Alvarez’s recovery is swift—and that their patchwork catching corps can hold the fort until he returns.