PORT ST. LUCIE – For a second straight season the Mets shall be with out Francisco Alvarez for a big stretch.
The catcher fractured the hamate bone on his left hand and can bear surgical procedure Monday that may sideline him for 6-8 weeks, in response to supervisor Carlos Mendoza.
Alvarez sustained the fracture on a swing throughout stay batting apply on Saturday.
“It’s a big blow when your starting catcher goes down,” Mendoza stated 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.”
Mendoza added the expectation is Alvarez will want the total eight weeks as a result of he’s a catcher and the harm occurred on his glove hand. By that timeline, Alvarez would return to the Mets’ lineup in early Might.
Final season Alvarez slipped rounding first base and tore a ligament in his left thumb that necessitated surgical procedure that price him seven weeks.
His preliminary return gave the Mets’ lineup a jolt, however he struggled for a lot of the second half, ending with a .237/.307/.403 slash line with 11 homers and 47 RBIs.
Backup Luis Torrens will transfer into the starter’s position in Alvarez’s absence.
The catching depth in camp consists of Chris Williams, Hayden Senger and Jakson Reetz.
“These guys can handle a pitching staff, they can receive so we feel good,” Mendoza stated. “[Torrens] will get a good opportunity now.”
Alvarez will be a part of pitchers Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas on the injured record to start the season.
Manaea is sidelined till mid-to-late April with a proper indirect pressure and Montas is rehabbing from a high-grade lat pressure that may maintain him out till at the very least mid-Might.
