Francisco Alvarez's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (thumb), who is recovering from surgery on his thumb, will not join the Mets in London this weekend against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. However, the Mets are hopeful that Alvarez can return from the 10-day injured list on their ensuing homestand that begins next Tuesday, June 11, against the visiting Miami Marlins. The 22-year-old backstop has been out since April 20 due to a fractured left thumb, but the Mets and fantasy managers are about to get him back soon. When healthy, Alvarez is the Mets' unquestioned starter behind the plate, although they could ease him back into big-league action when he returns next week. So far on his minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Binghamton, Alvarez has gone 2-for-8 with a homer and two walks. He should not be floating around on any waiver wires with his return imminent.

New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said ahead of Tuesday's game against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers that catcher Francisco Alvarez (thumb) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Thursday with Double-A Binghamton. Alvarez will catch five to seven innings, and it's a great sign that's already good to go to for game action after he had no issues swinging in batting practice amid his recovery from surgery on his left thumb. Alvarez is firmly on track to return to the Mets in late June, or perhaps even a bit earlier if all continues to go well. The 22-year-old former top prospect may have been hitting just .236 (13-for-55) with one home run as New York's primary catcher before getting hurt, but he did have four doubles and one stolen base over 16 games and is worth stashing in all fantasy leagues for his power potential at the catcher position.

New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (thumb) could be back with the team within the next month and has taken batting practice the last couple of days, consistently hitting balls with exit velocities over 100 mph. Alvarez was wearing a splint and may continue to do so whenever he's activated from the injured list. The Mets may need to be mindful of how they bring Alvarez back, and they also need to be mindful of his positioning behind the plate. The young 22-year-old backstop is eager to frame pitches and steal strikes for his pitchers, but that makes him susceptible to contact on a swing. Alvarez needed surgery on his thumb and was hitting .236 (13-for-55) with a homer and eight RBI in 16 games at the time of his injury in April. Until Alvarez returns, Omar Narvaez and Tomas Nido will continue to split playing time behind the dish for the Metropolitans.

New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (thumb) is scheduled to take batting practice when the club opens a homestand that begins on Friday, and he has been catching pitches with a splint inside his mitt. Alvarez is progressing well and perhaps ahead of schedule as he recuperates from ligament surgery in his left thumb, and he's still on course for a mid-to-late June return to the Mets. The 22-year-old slugging backstop was hitting just .236 (13-for-55) with one home run as New York's primary catcher before heading to the sidelines, but he did have four doubles and one stolen base over 16 games and is worth stashing in all fantasy leagues for his power upside at the catcher position. As long as Alvarez remains on the shelf, veterans Omar Narvaez and Tomas Nido will continue sharing work in a platoon for at-bats behind the dish.

New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (thumb) had the stitches removed in his surgically-repaired left thumb on Monday. Alvarez is traveling with the team so he can continue taking part in pregame meetings between pitchers and catchers, but he's still only two weeks into a roughly eight-week rehab process. The 22-year-old former top prospect isn't expected to be available to the Mets until late June, and his .236/.288/.364 triple-slash line with one home run, eight RBI, eight runs scored, and one stolen base over 55 at-bats (16 games) before getting sidelined makes him only a borderline stash in shallow mixed fantasy leagues. Veterans Omar Narvaez and Tomas Nido are filling in behind the plate for the time being, but both backstops are hitting under the Mendoza line and are very low-upside choices in two-catcher setups at the bottom of New York's lineup.