New York Mets starting catcher Francisco Alvarez tore a ligament in his thumb that will require surgery. He’s expected to miss six to eight weeks.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza gave the update after the team’s 6-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday afternoon. The Mets placed Alvarez on the 15-day injured list earlier in the day.
Alvarez, 22, appeared to sustain the injury in the second inning of the Mets’ 9-4 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday. While running the bases, he stumbled while going around first, then planted his left hand in the ground to stabilize himself before continuing to second base.
Mendoza knew after the game he’d lost his starting catcher even before the diagnosis.
“I’m pretty concerned, I’m not going to lie,” Mendoza said. “He was in pain. I am worried about that.”
In a corresponding move, the Mets selected catcher Tomas Nido from Triple-A Syracuse and designated left-hander Kolton Ingram for assignment.
In 16 games this season, Alvarez is batting .236 with a home run and eight RBIs. He assumed the starter role as a rookie last season, batting .209 with 25 homers and 63 RBIs in 123 games.
Nido, 30, is hitting .345 with a home run and two RBIs in nine games at Syracuse. He has spent parts of the past seven seasons with the Mets and has a career average of .213 in 274 games.
Ingram, a 27-year-old reliever, was 1-0 with a 7.20 in five innings stretched over four games at Syracuse.
