Mets' A.J. Ewing Debut Overshadowed by Catcher Francisco Alvarez's Knee Injury

On May 12, 2026, New York Mets beat Detroit Tigers 10-2 at Citi Field. In the sixth inning, catcher Francisco Alvarez fouled off a 2-1 fastball from Burch Smith and twisted his knee. He left the game and will undergo an MRI on May 13.

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The Mets entered the game with five players on the injured list: shortstop Francisco Lindor (calf strain), first baseman Jorge Polanco (Achilles bursitis), center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (lumbar disc herniation). President David Stearns said none of the regulars—Lindor, Polanco, Robert—has a return timetable.

New York Post

Alvarez, 24, missed most of 2024-2025 with thumb and hamate injuries, appearing in 176 games. He has logged 37 games this season, batting .241 with four homers and a .710 OPS, and added a run-scoring double against Detroit earlier.

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Backup catcher Luis Torrens entered with a 2-2 count and drew a walk that sparked a three-run inning. If Alvarez lands on the injured list, the Mets plan to promote catcher Hayden Senger from Triple-A.

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• Alvarez’s 2026 line: .241/.317/.393/.710 in 37 games.

Francisco Alvarez Injures Knee; Will Receive Imaging

• Five Mets players are on the injured list—the most in the National League—and Luis Torrens’ walk contributed to the three-run sixth inning.

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• The 10-2 win matched the Mets' largest margin of victory this season.

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Manager Carlos Mendoza said the team needed to wait for evaluation and expressed concern about the severity of Alvarez’s swing. President David Stearns noted there is no timetable for injured regulars and surgery is not being considered for Luis Robert Jr.

New York Post

Three sources name the replacement catcher as Luis Torrens, while one calls him Luis Torres, showing a reporting inconsistency. No recovery timeline has been released after scheduled MRI.

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• “We just got to wait,” — Carlos Mendoza, Mets manager

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• “It didn't look good on that swing, obviously. We saw it right away and came out. We've got to wait.” — Carlos Mendoza, Mets manager

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Alvarez’s MRI, due May 13, will decide if he is placed on injured list. If so, Hayden Senger is expected to be called up, and Luis Torrens (or Torres) will remain the primary backup catcher. The club’s broader injury list underscores the need for roster flexibility early in season.

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