Catcher Francisco Alvarez injured his right thumb during the seventh inning of Sunday’s Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The injury occurred when Alvarez slid head-first into second base after hitting a double off the right-field wall. He immediately called for time and was examined by the Mets’ training staff. Alvarez remained in the game to run the bases, advancing as far as third, but was replaced by Luis Torrens before the eighth inning.
Manager Carlos Mendoza explained what happened in the dugout. Alvarez initially told him, “I’m good, I’m good, I’m good.” When Alvarez then asked to play catch, Mendoza decided to remove him, saying, “Let’s not mess around with it and let’s go inside. I basically took it away from him. I didn’t want to even let him play catch.”
- Francisco Alvarez suffered a right thumb UCL sprain and has been placed on the injured list, with surgery required either during or after the season.
- The Mets are optimistic he can return in September, though his ability to swing the bat will determine his comeback.
- Luis Torrens and rookie Hayden Senger will handle catching duties while Alvarez recovers, as the Mets fight for a playoff spot.
MRI Results and Mets’ Medical Plan
An MRI revealed an ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) sprain in Alvarez’s right thumb. The Mets placed him on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday. Team doctors and staff have determined that Alvarez will require surgery, but the timing remains undecided.
Alvarez will refrain from baseball activities for 10 to 14 days. After that period, he will begin a hitting progression and may eventually participate in Minor League rehab games. At that stage, team officials will evaluate if he can play effectively through the injury.
Mendoza outlined the team’s approach. “He needs surgery, obviously, but right now, talking to multiple doctors, the plan is to give him 10–14 days to calm down the inflammation and see where he’s at after that as far as gripping the bat, if he’s going to be able to swing,” he said. “If he goes and has surgery right now, he’s going to be done for the season anyway. So, he wants to give it a try. We’re hopeful that he can play through this, but we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Three doctors evaluated Alvarez and agreed there was little harm in delaying the procedure. The surgery typically requires six to eight weeks of recovery. Regardless of when it occurs, Alvarez is expected to be ready for the start of Spring Training in 2026. Mendoza added, “Time will tell.”
Why the Mets Are Holding Out Hope
The Mets’ optimism partly comes from a precedent involving former Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia. Pedroia tore the UCL in his left thumb on Opening Day in 2013 but played the entire season. He was named an All-Star, won a Gold Glove, and finished seventh in MVP voting, while helping Boston win the World Series.
Alvarez’s case is different from Pedroia’s. The injury is to his throwing hand rather than his receiving hand, which team officials consider a positive. Mendoza explained, “The throwing, we don’t think it’s going to be the issue. It’s more swinging the bat and gripping the bat. That’s why we’re still optimistic, because it’s not the receiving hand.”
Still, the timing of the injury is frustrating. Alvarez had been in the middle of his best offensive stretch since his rookie season. After a brief stint at Triple-A Syracuse earlier in the year, he returned to the majors in late July and surged at the plate, hitting .323/.408/.645 with four home runs, six doubles, one triple, 13 RBI, and 14 runs scored in 21 games. On the season overall, he has batted .265/.349/.438 with seven home runs in 56 games.
Alvarez’s Injury History and the Catching Situation
Hand problems are nothing new for Alvarez. In 2024, he missed nearly two months following surgery to repair a UCL sprain in his left thumb. In the spring of 2025, he fractured his left hamate bone, required surgery, and missed the first month of the regular season.
With Alvarez sidelined, the Mets will turn to Luis Torrens as their starting catcher. Torrens has filled in for Alvarez before and is considered one of the game’s top defensive catchers, particularly in throwing out baserunners. However, his offensive numbers have lagged, with a .214/.280/.301 line in 76 games this year. Rookie Hayden Senger has been recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to serve as Torrens’ backup.
Mendoza acknowledged the pressure on his remaining catchers. “He’s a good player,” the manager said of Torrens. “He showed it last year when we acquired him. He was a big part of this team at the beginning of the year — him and Senger both — when we were winning a lot of games. We’re going to need those guys to step up now.”
Mets’ Playoff Position and Betting Market Reaction
The Mets entered Tuesday’s game against the Washington Nationals with a 66–58 record. They currently hold the third and final National League playoff spot, one game ahead of the Cincinnati Reds. Over their past 30 games, the Mets have gone 13–17, while the Reds have gone 17–13.
Sportsbooks have adjusted their outlook on the Mets. Following the signing of Juan Soto in December 2024, odds on the Mets to win the World Series shortened from +1400 to +800. As of Aug. 21, 2025, BetMGM listed the Mets at +1500 to win the World Series, while FanDuel had them at +1600. Covers’ consensus odds were shorter at +1200.
Additional futures markets list the Mets at +800 to win the National League pennant and +700 to win the NL East. DraftKings’ playoff market most recently priced the Mets at -290 to make the postseason and +245 to miss.
Daily game lines have also reflected the uncertainty. For one mid-August matchup, consensus odds placed the Mets as slight favorites around -115 to -130, with totals set at 8.5 runs. Sports betting splits showed as much as 88% of the handle on the Mets’ moneyline in a recent game.
In award markets, Pete Alonso was listed at +6500 for National League MVP earlier in the season. As of this week, his odds have lengthened significantly, with DraftKings posting him at +20000 and other books listing him in the +15000 range.
In a separate move, the Mets released veteran right-hander Paul Blackburn on Tuesday.
Alvarez will be reevaluated after his 10-to-14-day rest period. If he can grip the bat and swing effectively, he may return in September. If not, surgery will end his season. Regardless of the outcome, surgery is expected either during or after the 2025 season.
Mendoza concluded, “We’re hopeful that he can play through this, but we’ve just got to wait and see.”
