The New York Mets announced Wednesday that catcher Francisco Alvarez has been added to the injured list following a torn meniscus diagnosis and is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks while recovering from the right knee injury.
The 24-year-old backstop will undergo surgical repair for the injury, with his roster spot being taken by Hayden Senger, who was called up from Triple-A Syracuse.
The injury occurred during Tuesday’s 10-2 victory over Detroit when Alvarez’s leg became twisted while making contact with a foul ball in the sixth inning. The catcher connected with a pitch from Burch Smith but lost his balance as he sent the ball into foul territory. Manager Carlos Mendoza and team medical staff pulled Alvarez from the game mid-at-bat.
This season, Alvarez has posted a .241 batting average while serving as New York’s primary catcher. Medical projections suggest his earliest possible return would be in late June or early July.
The injury adds to mounting health concerns for the Mets’ starting lineup. Outfielders Mike Tauchman and Jared Young are also currently sidelined with identical torn meniscus injuries.
Luis Torrens is expected to handle the bulk of catching duties moving forward, with newly recalled Senger providing support.
The 30-year-old Torrens recently secured his future with the organization, signing a two-year contract extension on May 2.
Through Wednesday’s action, Torrens had collected 10 hits across 48 at-bats for a .208 batting average this season. This marks his third campaign with New York, following previous stints with San Diego, Seattle and Chicago since entering the majors in 2017.
