Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns spoke with the media about catcher Francisco Alvarez’s upcoming rehab assignment. He emphasized that Alvarez’s ability to receive pitches while catching will be a crucial test during his stint. Alvarez will continue to wear a brace on his left thumb, which underwent surgery on April 25. The initial timeline for his return was six-to-eight weeks, but with Alvarez already participating in batting practice and starting a rehab assignment just five weeks after surgery, it seems likely that he will return sooner.
Before his injury, Alvarez had a slow start offensively, batting .236/.288/.364 with one home run and eight RBI. Despite his numbers, the struggling Mets offense could benefit from his bat and defensive skills behind the plate. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza expressed optimism about Alvarez’s progress, stating that being game-ready is a positive sign for the team.
