The New York Mets received a significant boost behind the plate Tuesday, reinstating catcher Francisco Alvarez from the injured list ahead of their series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Alvarez returns after missing nearly a month with a torn meniscus in his right knee, an injury he suffered during an at-bat against the Detroit Tigers on May 12. The 24-year-old underwent surgery shortly afterward and was initially expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks. Instead, he completed his recovery in just four weeks, allowing him to rejoin the club much sooner than anticipated.
Before the injury, Alvarez appeared in 37 games for New York and was batting .241 with four home runs and 10 RBIs. The young catcher has become an important part of the Mets’ lineup since making his major league debut and now returns as the team continues its push through the middle portion of the season.
A key contributor on both sides of the ball, Alvarez has spent his entire big-league career with the Mets. Across five seasons, he has compiled a .231 batting average while totaling 52 home runs and 153 RBIs in 341 career games.
To make room for Alvarez on the active roster, the Mets previously optioned catcher Hayden Senger to Triple-A Syracuse. Senger appeared in seven games during his stint with the major league club, recording two hits, including a home run, in 15 at-bats.
With Alvarez back in the lineup ahead of schedule, New York regains one of its most important young players as the season moves forward.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.