Mets Catcher Alvarez Out With Thumb Injury: What's Next?

In a concerning development for the New York Mets, their top prospect and starting catcher Francisco Alvarez was placed on the 10-day injured list due to a left thumb sprain sustained during Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The injury occurred in the second inning when Alvarez stumbled while rounding first base on an infield grounder, bracing himself with his left hand on the ground.

Alvarez, who made his highly anticipated major league debut last season, has struggled to find his footing at the plate so far in 2024, hitting just .236/.288/.364 with one home run in 59 plate appearances. The 21-year-old catcher was expected to take a significant step forward this year after an impressive rookie campaign in which he slugged 25 home runs and posted an OPS of .721 over 423 plate appearances.

However, those plans have been put on hold as the Mets announced that Alvarez’s recovery timeline is expected to extend beyond the 10-day minimum stay on the injured list. Manager Carlos Mendoza expressed concern about the situation, telling reporters that the team is “pretty concerned” and awaiting further test results to determine if there is any ligament damage or additional injuries beyond the initial sprain diagnosis.

To fill the void left by Alvarez’s absence, the Mets selected the contract of veteran catcher Tomas Nido from Triple-A Syracuse. Nido, who has spent his entire career in the Mets organization, signed a two-year, $3.7 million extension prior to the 2023 season and is owed $2.1 million for the remainder of this year.

The 28-year-old backstop will now have the opportunity to accumulate enough service time to reach five full seasons in the majors, which would grant him the ability to reject an outright assignment in favor of free agency while still retaining any remaining guaranteed salary.

Nido will share catching duties with Omar Narvaez, who replaced Alvarez behind the plate after the injury on Wednesday. While Narvaez provides a solid defensive presence, the Mets’ offensive production from the catcher position is likely to take a hit with the loss of Alvarez’s powerful bat.

To make room for Nido on the 40-man roster, the Mets designated left-hander Kolton Ingram for assignment. Ingram, who was claimed off waivers from the Detroit Tigers in February, has struggled mightily in four relief appearances for Triple-A Syracuse this season, posting a 7.20 ERA with control issues that have plagued him throughout his minor league career.

While the Mets remain hopeful that Alvarez’s injury is not too severe, the loss of their young star catcher for an extended period could pose a significant challenge as they look to remain competitive in the highly contested National League East division.

The team’s catching depth will be tested, with Nido and Narvaez tasked with handling the pitching staff and providing enough offensive production to keep the Mets afloat until Alvarez’s return. As the Mets await further updates on the severity of Alvarez’s injury, fans and the organization alike will be holding their breath, hoping for a speedy recovery for their promising young catcher.