QUEENS, NY — If catcher Francisco Alvarez (hamate bone) and second baseman Jeff McNeil (oblique) get through their final minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse, the expectation is that both will be activated and join the Mets for the start of Friday’s series against the Nationals down in D.C.
Alvarez fractured his hand early last month and underwent surgery to rectify it on March 10. He was able to stick to the six-to-eight-week timeframe that was originally administered to him, though his absence was not felt all that strongly.
Luis Torrens has stepped in and thrived with the starting catching role over the season’s first month. In 20 games, he has a home run with eight RBI, including two in Tuesday night’s 5-1 win over the Phillies, and has thrown out 50% of would-be base stealers.
His success will allow manager Carlos Mendoza to platoon Torrens with Alvarez until the 23-year-old backstop ramps up to speed. Following a 2024 season in which he regressed with 11 home runs and a .710 OPS, Alvarez will be debuting a new offensive approach at the plate.
Hayden Senger is expected to be demoted to Triple-A to make room for Alvarez.
Mendoza and the Mets will not have as easy a decision on who to demote in place of McNeil.
The second baseman and former batting champion will add further versatility to an already deep Mets team, as he could also get reps in corner-outfield spots, and even potentially in center field to help cushion the blow of Jose Siri’s eight-to-10-week absence (broken leg).
Infielders Brett Baty, Luisangel Acuna, and outfielder Jose Azocar are facing the chop, with their recent successes complicating the conundrum even more.
Acuna is batting .353 in his last 12 games and could also potentially be drawn into the center-field conversation. Baty, after batting .095 with a .238 OPS in his first eight games, is batting .258 with a .711 OPS since. Azocar is 3-for-7 in the bigs this season and can play any spot in the otufield.
“It’s not going to be an easy decision. That’s what we wanted a couple of weeks ago when we started talking about a potential move,” Mendoza said. “I said it, I was hoping it would be a difficult decision. That means guys are playing well, and that’s what they’re doing. You have Acuna, Baty, and Azocar — a lot of guys who are helping our team win baseball games day in and day out. It is difficult because they all provide versatility… Whoever we decide, it’s going to be out of their control, and that will be the message here. So it’s a tough spot, but throughout the course of the year, you’re going to be facing some tough decisions.”
