QUEENS, NY — New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez is scheduled to catch back-to-back games for Double-A Binghamton on Friday and Saturday in what could be the final stages of his rehab from hand surgery.
The 23-year-old, who underwent a procedure to repair a broken hamate bone in his left hand in early March, could make his season debut during this current homestand at Citi Field.
“I think we will have a conversation after he gets through those two days and see if he needs more at-bats,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “If he feels like he’s ready to go, then we have a decision.”
Alvarez has played four rehab games in Binghamton and homered on Tuesday night — his first of the season. He was also hit in his injured hand, but came out unscathed.
Upon his return, Luis Torrens will return to his usual role as backup, and Hayden Senger likely will be optioned to Triple-A.
Manaea, Montas progressing
Sean Manaea (oblique) is throwing every other day at 60 feet and will continue to do so “for the next week or 10 days,” Mendoza said.
The southpaw suffered a setback in his recovery on April 1 and was shut down an additional two weeks, which pegs a potential return around late May, early June.
It is the same estimated time of arrival as Frankie Montas (lat), who suffered a lat injury during the first week of spring training after signing a two-year, $34 million deal in the offseason. He is still throwing from 75 feet.
“He’s feeling good,” Mendoza said. “Now he’s just going through the progression.”
Blackburn headed to Brooklyn
Starting pitcher Paul Blackburn told amNewYork that he will report to Single-A Brooklyn for a rehab start on Saturday in Aberdeen against the IronBirds, where the initial plan is for him to throw two innings.
Paul Blackburn tells me he has a rehab outing for Brooklyn this Saturday. #Mets
— Joe Pantorno (@JoePantorno) April 17, 2025
The 31-year-old right-hander was in the mix for the final starting-rotation spot in spring training, but lost out to Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning, meaning he would start in the bullpen. Just before the start of the season, however, he was shelved due to right-knee inflammation.
With the Mets set to expand to a six-man rotation as the schedule intensifies, Blackburn could be an option, but he is still too early in his rehab process to make a definitive call on his role. The goal is to ramp him up to 75 pitches, regardless.
“We’re still a few weeks away before we have to make that decision,” Mendoza said. “Right now, we’re just going to prepare him. We’re going to build him up. Hopefully, to 75 pitches, and then we’ll have a decision where he goes in the rotation. But who knows that’s going to happen between now and then?”
