UPDATE: The New York Mets are breathing a sigh of relief after catcher Francisco Alvarez dodged a potentially serious injury during last night’s game. Alvarez, already dealing with a broken pinkie on his left hand and a torn UCL in his right thumb, was hit by a 100 mph fastball from San Diego Padres rookie right-hander Bradgley Rodriguez in the eighth inning of the Mets’ 8-3 victory on August 29, 2023.
In a heart-stopping moment, Alvarez appeared to be in excruciating pain, clutching his left arm after the pitch struck him. He slowly walked up the first-base line with Mets manager Carlos Mendoza and an athletic trainer at his side. Alvarez was promptly replaced by pinch-runner Hayden Senger, only to reappear moments later on the bench, smiling and sporting a large wrap around his arm.
Mendoza provided a positive update, stating that Alvarez was sore but not expected to undergo any imaging tests. “It looked like it didn’t hit him in the elbow; it was more like the triceps muscle area,” Mendoza explained. “We’ll see how he feels tomorrow, but as of right now, we’re not planning on doing any X-rays or anything like that.”
This incident marks the third time in three weeks that Alvarez has been hit on the left arm or hand. His recovery from the right thumb injury had already been interrupted on August 27 when he sustained a broken pinkie after being hit by a pitch while playing for Triple-A Syracuse. Just last Saturday, he was struck again by a pitch from Cole Winn of the Texas Rangers.
The Mets currently sit 1.5 games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks for the final National League wild card spot, making Alvarez’s health crucial as the postseason approaches. Fans and teammates alike are hoping for a quick recovery as the team gears up for the final stretch of the season.
As the situation develops, all eyes will be on Alvarez’s progress in the coming days. Mets supporters are encouraged to stay tuned for further updates on their star catcher’s condition.
