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The New York Mets saw their starting catcher go down with an injury in their win over the Detroit Tigers on May 12. Francisco Alvarez injured his right knee on a foul ball in the sixth inning and was immediately removed from the game.

After the game, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza expressed concern over the injury. Mendoza said, “It didn’t look good on that swing”.

The injury appears to be very serious for Alvarez and the Mets, as Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports that imaging revealed a torn right meniscus. The club did not provide any further update on their starting catcher.

A torn meniscus will likely require surgery; the only question is whether he needs a menisectomy or if it needs to be repaired. The former will keep him out for six to eight weeks, meaning a return around the All-Star Break; the latter would be a season-ender.

Francisco Alvarez Becomes Latest Met to Suffer the Injury Bug

Alvarez, 24, becomes the latest Mets hitter to be shelved due to an injury. DiComo notes that he’s the third player this year to suffer a meniscus tear, after outfielders Danny Young and Mike Tauchman. The injuries in the outfield have created a golden opportunity for top prospects Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing to establish themselves in the major leagues.

The Mets have since made a roster move addressing this injury, recalling catcher Hayden Senger from Triple-A Syracuse. Alvarez will go on the 15-day injured list.

The 2026 season has been anything but kind to the Mets. The team was already without three starters, with Francisco Lindor, Jorge Polanco, and Luis Robert Jr. all battling injuries. None of the three hitters appears to be nearing a return to action.

With four of their projected starters suffering significant injuries, it’s testing the organization’s depth. The club is already off to its worst 40-game start (15-25) in 33 years.

Meniscus Tear Latest Setback for Francisco Alvarez

Alvarez was once viewed as a core player in the Mets lineup. The 24-year-old was the club’s top prospect entering the 2023 season and was off to a promising start to his career after slugging 25 home runs as a rookie. However, staying healthy has been a big problem since.

Alvarez missed 45 games in 2024 with a sprained UCL in his left thumb and subsequent surgery. He also fractured the hamate bone in his left hand in Spring Training in 2025 and missed the first 25 games of that season. He also played through a sprained right thumb that eventually required surgery at the end of the season.

This injury is another setback in a career full of them. For at least the next six to eight weeks, the Mets will have to rely on Luis Torrens and Senger behind the plate. Torrens finished the game after Alvarez left, and Senger was pulled from the game in Syracuse.

The club may also have to consider the long-term outlook at the catcher position. Alvarez is still controllable through the 2029 season, with three more seasons of salary arbitration eligibility. However, that’s a question left to be answered in November, not May.