Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez to start when he returns from injured list
The Mets' Francisco Alvarez takes a ball during the fourth inning of a spring training game against the Houston Astros on Feb. 27 in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Credit: AP/Jeff Roberson
Luis Torrens has served as “a complete player” in the opening weeks of the Mets’ season, manager Carlos Mendoza said, providing as-expected top-notch defense as well as better-than-expected hitting in the absence of Francisco Alvarez.
When Alvarez returns to the roster, however, potentially as soon as Friday when the Mets open a series at the Nationals, he also will return to his role as the starting catcher — at the beginning, at least.
“He’s going to get an opportunity. He’ll play,” said Mendoza. “Out of the gate, probably not [a 50-50 split in playing time]. It’s going to be Alvy having a chance. They’re both going to play. Alvarez will get his [larger] share.”
Torrens inherited the bulk of the catching duties when Alvarez broke the hamate bone in his left hand and needed surgery during spring training. He and rookie Hayden Senger have been what Mendoza called an “unbelievable” duo so far. Entering the week, Torrens owned a .240 average and .703 OPS — remarkably similar to Alvarez’s .237 and .710 from last season.
Alvarez is 23 years old and has a higher ceiling, with the potential to be the franchise’s long-term backstop, so he won’t lose the starting gig by virtue of being hurt.
“We have two catchers we feel really good about,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said. “Mendy’s going to decide who plays every day and who gives us the best chance to win, and we certainly think Alvy is going to be a huge part of that.”
Mendoza said: “Man, they’ve been awesome . . . We’re getting ready to throw another quality guy to that mix.”
Alvarez will continue his rehabilitation assignment by playing with Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Piecing the centerfield puzzle
The Mets expect Jose Siri to miss eight to 10 weeks with his fractured left leg, Stearns said, which would mean an approximate mid-June return.
In the meantime, the Mets don’t know exactly how they are going to handle centerfield. But Jeff McNeil’s pending return from an oblique strain — also potentially Friday — figures to play a role.
McNeil will man center for Syracuse on Wednesday (and second base on Tuesday), Mendoza said.
His activation will mean the Mets might have at least four guys who can play center: Tyrone Taylor, who has received most of the playing time in Siri’s absence, plus Brandon Nimmo, McNeil, and one or both of Luisangel Acuna and Jose Azocar.
At second base, meanwhile, the Mets will have McNeil, Acuna and Brett Baty if the Mets carry him in the majors.
It makes for a pretty complicated puzzle with a bunch of pieces that don’t necessarily fit neatly together.
“I imagine Jeff is going to do what he always does,” Stearns said. “He’s going to bounce around. He’s going to play some second. He’ll fill in for the corner outfielders when needed. We’ll see how the centerfield thing goes; I think he’s excited about that. So there are plenty of at-bats to go around here, and Jeff will certainly will get his share.”
Of the Acuna/centerfield possibility, Stearns said: “It’s a possibility. He’s working out there. We’re going to have to work through what exactly that mix looks like over the next couple of days. He’s working really hard with [outfield coach Antoan Richardson] right now. We’re making some progress. We’ll get to the point where I think we have confidence in putting him out there.”
Extra bases
His early-season buildup complete, reliever Dedniel Nunez is ready to return to the majors from Triple-A, Stearns said. Now it’s just a matter of when the Mets have a need in a bullpen that has been among the best in baseball. “We know he’s going to be help as at some point this year, probably some point soon,” Stearns said . . . Mark Vientos was out of the lineup for a second day in a row because of his groin issue from Saturday, but Mendoza was hopeful that he would be available off the bench . . . Frankie Montas (strained right lat) remains in the throwing phase of his rehab — playing catch from 75-90 feet — but remains on track for a late May/early June return, per Stearns . . . Outfield prospect Drew Gilbert, who has played three games for Syracuse after more hamstring problems delayed the start of his season, doesn’t seem to be an option quite yet. “Ideally we give prospects a chance to really have a high level of success at a particular level before we ask them to do it in the big leagues,” Stearns said . . . Stearns on Pete Alonso: “What Pete's doing is as good a start you can envision for any human.”
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
