A Mets team in dire need of positive news got some Tuesday, as Francisco Alvarez’s quick comeback from a torn meniscus became official.
Alvarez was in the lineup — and behind the plate — at Citi Field for the Mets’ 7-0 loss to the Cardinals, less than a month after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.
Access the Mets beat like never before
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.
Try it freeAlvarez had been expected to miss 6-8 weeks following the May 14 procedure, but his recovery went much faster than expected.
He went 1-for-3 with a strikeout in his return to action.
“It’s hard to describe,” Carlos Mendoza said before the game. “It’s unbelievable. Two days after he had surgery, I saw him in the training room holding a bat, practicing his stance. … He was like, ‘I’m gonna be back soon.’ Before you know it, four weeks later, he’s not only playing, he’s playing at the big league level.”
New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) hits a single during the third inning when the New York Mets played the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at Citi Field in Queens, NY. Robert Sabo for NY PostIt remains to be seen how often Alvarez will catch, as Mendoza said he would get time at DH and days off, as they want to keep using Luis Torrens, who is valued for his defense, “as much as possible.”
Hayden Senger was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Monday to open up a spot for Alvarez.
“I wanted to get back as quickly as possible to help the team,’’ Alvarez said through an interpreter. “I also want to be at 100 percent of my capabilities. I feel good. I’m ready to go.”
He dealt with a sprained UCL in his right thumb and a hamate fracture last year, both of which required IL stints, as well as one in 2024 for a left thumb sprain.
The torn meniscus occurred on a swing, which Mendoza said on Tuesday was a “freak injury.”
“[Alvarez] has dealt with so much in his career,” Mendoza said. “He wants to play. He wants to be in the lineup. Our job is to manage [the injuries]. Some players heal quicker than others. I don’t think anyone is surprised by it. We saw it last year with the [torn] ligament. He was back a lot quicker than anticipated.”
He won’t do the Mets much good if he’s not at full strength and Alvarez insisted he was prior to Tuesday’s game.
“I feel good,’’ he said. “My legs feel strong.”
If that’s the case, the Mets will take him.
Mets’ Francisco Alvarez reacts in the dugout against the Cincinnati Reds. Corey Sipkin for the NY POSTThey continue to have plenty of injury concerns, with Francisco Lindor out with a strained calf, Jorge Polanco sidelined with an ankle injury, Luis Robert Jr. out indefinitely with a lumbar spine disc herniation and Tyrone Taylor sidelined with a right hip flexor strain.
Since May 10, the light-hitting Torrens has held his own at the plate, with a .703 OPS, but the Mets would rather not rely on his bat.
Alvarez was not hitting well prior to his injury, with just four extra-base hits in his last 23 games before landing on the IL.
But Mendoza and the Mets know what he can do when healthy.
- 47 Brand logo cap
- 1986 eco tote bag
- Mets fiber beach towel
- 14-ounce sculpted relief mug
- Customizable jersey
- Color block logo backpack
“I don’t think anybody anticipated this,’’ Mendoza said of Alvarez’s timeline.
Without Alvarez, the Mets relied even more on Juan Soto, as well as the emergence of Carson Benge and the rebounding at the plate of Marcus Semien and — to a lesser degree — Bo Bichette.
