Francisco Álvarez Suffers New Injury
Mets catcher Francisco Álvarez has been diagnosed with a fracture in the pinky finger of his left hand, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. Álvarez suffered the injury after being hit by a pitch during a game with the Triple-A Syracuse team on Wednesday. Mendoza indicated that Álvarez will wait for the inflammation in his finger to subside, estimating between two or three days, before resuming baseball-related activities. The third-year receiver was already on the injured list due to a sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb, and was assigned to rehabilitation.This fracture is the fourth hand injury suffered by 23-year-old Álvarez in the last two years. Last season, he underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb and missed almost two months. This spring, he fractured the hook bone in his left hand, missing the first month of the regular season. His recent UCL sprain occurred while sliding headfirst into second base on August 17. It’s the same thumb he injured last year. The ligament will require surgery to heal, but the Mets hope to postpone the procedure until the offseason to avoid missing the rest of the season. The surgery requires an eight-week recovery time. Instead, doctors gave him the green light to play as long as he can tolerate the pain in his throwing hand. However, if it were to tear completely, he would require surgery sooner and end his season. Now, he is dealing with a fracture in his receiving hand.This should be relatively short. But then again, it’s a small setback compared to the original plan. But when you get the news of a fracture, you think of the worst-case scenario, but apparently that’s not the case here. So we just have to wait and see.
Carlos Mendoza
On Wednesday was Álvarez’s first rehab game for the ulnar collateral ligament sprain. He went 1-for-2 with a walk and was behind the plate for five innings. His right thumb was not tested by any runners on base.We’re not going to put him in a position where he feels very uncomfortable. As hard as it is, he’s human. So I think we have to get him to a point where it’s manageable because now we’re also talking about the receiving hand. But, again, it’s a small fracture and we just have to wait. But it’s about making sure we don’t put the player in a position where he’s in danger.
Carlos Mendoza
The UCL sprain interrupted the best stretch of Álvarez’s season, which began with him struggling so much that the Mets sent him to Syracuse in late June. Álvarez was batting .236 with three home runs and a .652 OPS in 35 games when he was sent down. He returned a month later to bat .323 with four home runs and a 1.054 OPS in 21 games until his thumb injury. Without him, the Mets will continue to rotate veterans Luis Torrens and rookie Hayden Senger behind the plate.The ball came out well. Good intensity, good trajectory. But, again, we have to wait and see what happens in the real action. When he has to make the transfer and put the ball in the air as quickly as possible and throw something. But, so far, between innings yesterday, in the five innings he caught, he was fine.
Carlos Mendoza
It has been hard for him.
Carlos Mendoza
