Mets' Alvarez to have right knee surgery, Mendoza hopes catcher could return in 6-8 weeks

Francisco Alvarez needs surgery to repair a torn right meniscus in his right knee, and New York manager Carlos Mendoza hopes his starting catcher could return in six-to-eight weeks following his fourth trip to the injured list since the start of 2024. Alvarez was hurt when he fouled off a pitch in the sixth inning of Tuesday’s 10-2 win over the Detroit Tigers. Alvarez missed 45 games from April to June in 2024 because of a sprained left thumb, the first 25 games of 2025 with a fractured hamate bone in his left hand and 16 games last August and September because of a sprained right thumb.

New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez is set for surgery after tearing the meniscus in his right knee during Tuesday night's 10-2 win over the Detroit Tigers. Manager Carlos Mendoza remains optimistic, hoping the young backstop can return in six-to-eight weeks.

The injury occurred in the sixth inning when Alvarez fouled a pitch off his knee. It's the latest in a frustrating string of health setbacks for the 24-year-old, who has now landed on the injured list four times since the start of 2024.

"You feel for him," Mendoza said Wednesday. "He hasn't gotten that run of playing every day, going through struggles, finding a way to get through it. For the past three years, he's always been injured. He struggles, he gets hot, but then he gets hurt and misses significant time."

Alvarez's injury history is becoming a growing concern. He missed 45 games from April to June 2024 with a sprained left thumb, sat out the first 25 games of 2025 with a fractured hamate bone in his left hand, and lost another 16 games last August and September due to a sprained right thumb.

Through 37 games this season, Alvarez has posted a .241 batting average with four home runs and 10 RBIs. The Mets have placed him on the 10-day injured list and recalled Hayden Senger from Triple-A Syracuse. Luis Torrens and Senger will split time behind the plate during his absence.

Alvarez is just one name on a growing list of Mets injuries that now includes 12 players. Among the sidelined are right-handers Reed Garrett, Justin Hagenman, Tylor Megill, Dedniel Núñez, and Kodai Senga; left-hander A.J. Minter; shortstop Francisco Lindor; infielders Ronny Mauricio, Jorge Polanco, and Jared Young; and outfielder Luis Robert Jr. All-Star outfielder Juan Soto also missed 15 games last month with a strained right calf.

Despite the mounting challenges, Mendoza remains focused on the here and now. "My job is to get the best out of them today," he said. "If I'm worrying about when this guy is going to get back or if we're going to be able to put the whole band together, that's not productive."

Mets' Alvarez to have right knee surgery, Mendoza hopes catcher could return in 6-8 weeks

Mets' Alvarez to have right knee surgery, Mendoza hopes catcher could return in 6-8 weeks