New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was “pretty concerned” about star catcher Francisco Alvarez after he suffered a gruesome injury.
It was a great night for the Mets on Friday as they won the first of a three-game road trip against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but they held their breath over Alvarez, who was sent for a thumb scan after a bad accident. .
The baseball game was only early in the second inning when Alvarez was seen kneeling in the middle of the field, grimacing as he squeezed his thumb.
The Venezuelan had stepped up to the plate and returned a hit to pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but managed to reach first base and round it for second after a defensive error by the Dodgers.
However, Alvarez slipped while changing direction, catching himself with his left hand before sprinting and sliding safely toward second base.
It was clear he had been injured in the process, with replays showing his thumb collapsing and leaning back in gruesome footage as he stumbled between the goals.
He remained on base during the inning and eventually ran to score on Harrison Bader’s center field drive, but then immediately left the game and was replaced by second choice catcher Omar Narvaez.
New York ultimately scored a big five-run victory against the talented Dodgers, with a final score of 9-4 after home runs from DJ Stewart and Francisco Lindor.
The Mets – who will travel to the UK this summer for the MLB London Series against the Phillies – are on a roll after a disastrous start to the season.
It was their fifth consecutive victory in a remarkable turnaround in form under new manager Mendoza, having started the season with five defeats in their opening five games.
Since that run, however, they have gone 11-3. The Dodgers, who are expected to go far this season after the arrival of Japanese hitter and pitcher Shohei Ohtani, have won only two of their last eight outings.
But Alvarez’s injury is a blow to the Mets, and it’s their second in a matter of days as they are already missing third baseman Brett Baty due to a hamstring injury. .
Both youngsters have been vital for Mendoza, with Alvarez, 22, becoming one of the best catchers in Major League Baseball since his rookie season in 2023, and also proving to be one of the team’s most consistent hitters with a home run and eight RBIs. this season.
Baty, 24, had struggled to make it to the big leagues in his rookie year last season, but has shown real improvement with his defensive plays so far this year, as well as with the bat in hand – recording a home run and nine RBIs in 17 games before being ejected from Tuesday’s win over the Pirates.
Having both men out at the same time is a blow to Mendoza, who admitted after Friday night’s win over the Dodgers that it didn’t look good for his starting catcher.
“I’m pretty worried, I’m not going to lie,” the Mets manager said.
“Obviously he’s having an MRI right now, but he’s in pain. That worries me.”
Mendoza went into more detail, explaining that when Alvarez returned to the dugout, he couldn’t tighten the glove, leading to his replacement.
According to SNY, Alvarez appears to have injured the same thumb while sliding toward second base during the Mets’ series sweep against the Pirates on Wednesday, and in the same game he was checked by trainers after being hit in the left hand during a swing.
The New York broadcaster confirmed later Saturday that Alvarez had been placed on the team’s 15-day injured list with a sprained left thumb – good news, considering the condition of the situation at that time.
Tomas Nido was recalled from the Triple-A Syracuse Mets as cover at catcher.
New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was “pretty concerned” about star catcher Francisco Alvarez after he suffered a gruesome injury.
It was a great night for the Mets on Friday as they won the first of a three-game road trip against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but they held their breath over Alvarez, who was sent for a thumb scan after a bad accident. .
The baseball game was only early in the second inning when Alvarez was seen kneeling in the middle of the field, grimacing as he squeezed his thumb.
The Venezuelan had stepped up to the plate and returned a hit to pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but managed to reach first base and round it for second after a defensive error by the Dodgers.
However, Alvarez slipped while changing direction, catching himself with his left hand before sprinting and sliding safely toward second base.
It was clear he had been injured in the process, with replays showing his thumb collapsing and leaning back in gruesome footage as he stumbled between the goals.
He remained on base during the inning and eventually ran to score on Harrison Bader’s center field drive, but then immediately left the game and was replaced by second choice catcher Omar Narvaez.
New York ultimately scored a big five-run victory against the talented Dodgers, with a final score of 9-4 after home runs from DJ Stewart and Francisco Lindor.
The Mets – who will travel to the UK this summer for the MLB London Series against the Phillies – are on a roll after a disastrous start to the season.
It was their fifth consecutive victory in a remarkable turnaround in form under new manager Mendoza, having started the season with five defeats in their opening five games.
Since that run, however, they have gone 11-3. The Dodgers, who are expected to go far this season after the arrival of Japanese hitter and pitcher Shohei Ohtani, have won only two of their last eight outings.
But Alvarez’s injury is a blow to the Mets, and it’s their second in a matter of days as they are already missing third baseman Brett Baty due to a hamstring injury. .
Both youngsters have been vital for Mendoza, with Alvarez, 22, becoming one of the best catchers in Major League Baseball since his rookie season in 2023, and also proving to be one of the team’s most consistent hitters with a home run and eight RBIs. this season.
Baty, 24, had struggled to make it to the big leagues in his rookie year last season, but has shown real improvement with his defensive plays so far this year, as well as with the bat in hand – recording a home run and nine RBIs in 17 games before being ejected from Tuesday’s win over the Pirates.
Having both men out at the same time is a blow to Mendoza, who admitted after Friday night’s win over the Dodgers that it didn’t look good for his starting catcher.
“I’m pretty worried, I’m not going to lie,” the Mets manager said.
“Obviously he’s having an MRI right now, but he’s in pain. That worries me.”
Mendoza went into more detail, explaining that when Alvarez returned to the dugout, he couldn’t tighten the glove, leading to his replacement.
According to SNY, Alvarez appears to have injured the same thumb while sliding toward second base during the Mets’ series sweep against the Pirates on Wednesday, and in the same game he was checked by trainers after being hit in the left hand during a swing.
The New York broadcaster confirmed later Saturday that Alvarez had been placed on the team’s 15-day injured list with a sprained left thumb – good news, considering the condition of the situation at that time.
Tomas Nido was recalled from the Triple-A Syracuse Mets as cover at catcher.