Francisco Alvarez continues to recover from his hand fracture. He’s a catcher who’s given everything to the New York Mets since arriving, but while he remains sidelined, his spot has been filled by Luis Torrens — who’s done an exceptional job. And based on David Stearns’ recent comments, the competition could be shifting in one direction.
“We have two catchers who we feel really good about,” Stearns told SNY in a press conference. “Mendy’s going to decide who plays every day and who gives us the best chance to win. We certainly think Alvy’s going to be a huge part of that.”
With that statement, Alvarez’s place as the Mets’ everyday starter doesn’t appear to be locked in — a decision that will ultimately be made by manager Carlos Mendoza, who also provided the latest update on Alvarez’s recovery.
How is Francisco Alvarez progressing?
According to Mendoza, Alvarez is still rehabbing and recently played in a Double-A game as the designated hitter alongside another teammate on rehab assignment. In that game, he looked much improved, going 4-for-4 with a home run.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 15: Luis Torrens #13 of the New York Mets looks on against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Target Field on April 15, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Both Alvarez and Torrens are quality catchers, but Torrens brings a bit more MLB experience. The Venezuelan backstop has been in the majors for eight seasons compared to Alvarez’s three. That, combined with the fact that Mendoza himself is also Venezuelan, could make this a tough decision for the Mets’ skipper.
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Torrens’ second act
While a final decision is still to come, Torrens has already appeared in 18 games this season — a jump from the 47 games he played last year, which included two postseason appearances. In contrast, Alvarez dominated the position in 2024, appearing in 100 games with 342 plate appearances.
