Mets Catcher Francisco Alvarez Sidelined 6-8 Weeks with Broken Hand

The New York Mets have been dealt a tough hand—literally. Starting catcher Francisco Alvarez will miss six to eight weeks after suffering a broken left hamate bone during spring training. The team confirmed on Sunday that Alvarez, 23, will undergo surgery on Monday to repair the injury, putting him out of action for the Opening Day and beyond.

Alvarez, a former top prospect, entered the 2025 season with sky-high expectations. Unfortunately, this setback is putting a damper on what was supposed to be his breakout year. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza didn’t sugarcoat the situation, saying, "It’s always tough when one of your guys goes down like that. But again, you’ve got to keep going. Nobody’s going to feel sorry for us. Everybody deals with injuries. We’ll get him back."

Alvarez is known for his power at the plate, smashing 25 homers last year, but the hamate bone injury could potentially affect his swing strength. The Mets were hoping for more fireworks from their catcher this season, but now they’ll have to wait and see if his rehab allows him to maintain his slugging prowess.

Defensively, Alvarez is also a standout with a cannon arm and solid framing skills. Since the injury is to his catching hand, his recovery will need to ensure he can handle high-velocity pitches without issues upon his return. In the interim, Luis Torrens, a defense-first veteran, will step in. Torrens, who joined the Mets last year, hit .229 with three home runs over 47 games in 2024.

The Mets have already been hit by a wave of injuries this spring. Starting pitcher Sean Manaea strained his oblique and won’t be ready for the start of the season, while newly signed Frankie Montas is sidelined for six to eight weeks with a strained lat. On top of that, utilityman Nick Madrigal is out for the entire season after dislocating and fracturing his left shoulder. Talk about a rough start to the year.

Despite these early setbacks, the Mets have plenty to look forward to, including their blockbuster acquisition of Juan Soto in the offseason. New York secured Soto on a jaw-dropping 15-year, $765 million deal—an MLB record. Alongside stars like Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, and others, the Mets still have the firepower to make noise in 2025.

As tough as these injuries are, the Mets proved last year that they can weather adversity. Their incredible second-half push led to a postseason run that ended in the NLCS against the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Mets fans are undoubtedly hoping for another resilient season, even if it’s starting with a few bumps in the road.