NY Mets Suffer Crushing Injury Blow To Start The Season

While the crosstown Yankees deal with all sorts of huge health problems, in Queens, the New York Mets certainly haven't escaped the injury bug either. They've learned on Sunday that they'll be without starting catcher Francisco Alvarez for up to two months.

Francisco Alvarez will undergo surgery due to a fracture in the hamate bone on his left hand. He will miss 6-8 weeks, per Mets manager Carlos Mendoza. pic.twitter.com/auu8wMwR0Y
— MLB (@MLB) March 9, 2025

Alvarez fractured the hamate bone on his left hand during live at-bats on Saturday. He will undergo surgery on Monday. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza says that will sideline the young backstop for likely eight weeks. The injury was to his glove hand, so it'll need the full time period to heal. He'll be out until sometime in May.

“It’s a big blow when your starting catcher goes down,” 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.”

Alvarez missed a huge chunk of time (seven weeks) early last season as well, when we slipped rounding first base and tore a ligament in his left thumb. He had surgery on the same hand then as well.

In 100 games and 342 plate appearances, he registered a .237 batting average, with 11 home runs and 47 RBIs. He finished with a .710 OPS and a 101 OPS+. He slugged 23 homers in his rookie season in 2023.

They hope to get their young bull back behind the plate as soon as possible, as they were a much better team with him in the lineup in 2024.

The Mets were 65-35 with Francisco Alvarez healthy in 2024.

They were just 24-38 without him. pic.twitter.com/gYH9RLzL7J
— MetsMuse (@MetsMuse) March 9, 2025

The Mets were 65-35 with Alvarez pencilled into the game in 2024, but just 24-38 without him.

Luis Torrens will move into the starter’s role behind the plate while Alvarez heals.

The catcher joins starting pitchers Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas on the injured list to begin the season as well. Both have a similar timeline to Alvarez, with returns expected anytime from late April to mid-May.