Francisco Alvarez surgery may change New York Mets plans

Francisco Alvarez is expected to be a key part of the New York Mets lineup in 2023. That time might take a little longer than expected.

As reported by Tim Healey of Newsday, Alvarez underwent surgery on Tuesday to take care of the cartilage damage in his right ankle that had kept him on the shelf in August and September.

New York Mets catching plans for 2023 may be delayed

On the positive side, Alvarez is expected to be ready once spring training begins. This should give him the opportunity to compete for a starting role on the Mets, potentially pushing James McCann into a backup spot that he may be better suited for.

But that comes down to how quickly Alvarez can recover. The Mets may want to ease Alvarez back into action, having him slowly progress in March while sending him down to Triple-A to begin the season. As Alvarez is expected to be a key part of their future, it makes sense to be more cautious with his health at the beginning part of next season.

That delay can also be beneficial. There have been questions about whether or not Alvarez is ready defensively to handle the position at the major league level. He has a strong arm, but there are questions about his accuracy. Likewise, Alvarez still needs work with his ability to block pitches in the dirt and his pitch framing.

It was probable that Alvarez would begin the 2023 season in Triple-A regardless of his surgery. He had just 199 plate appearances at the highest level of the minors before joining the Mets in late September. It would have made sense to give him a few more plate appearances and more of a chance to work on his defense without the pressure of being in the majors. His surgery and the Mets’ probability of being cautious mean that his ascension from catcher of the future to catcher of the present will be a bit longer.

Francisco Alvarez underwent ankle surgery on Tuesday. Chances are, that means the New York Mets’ future behind the plate will be delayed.