NEW YORK — The Metropolitans are optimistic that Francisco Alvarez, who is already competing while managing a fractured pinky finger on his left hand along with a damaged ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb, avoided sustaining an additional injury Tuesday evening. This occurred when the catcher was struck by a pitched ball on his upper left arm.
Alvarez seemed to be experiencing significant discomfort following the impact of a 160 km/h fastball thrown by Bradgley Rodriguez, a right-handed rookie pitcher for the San Diego Friars, during the eighth inning of the Metropolitans’ 8-3 triumph. The 23-year-old player lowered himself behind the home plate structure, clutching his left arm, as he gradually proceeded toward the first-base boundary accompanied by skipper Carlos Mendoza and a sports therapist.
Alvarez was substituted with pinch-runner Hayden Senger but subsequently reappeared on the Metropolitans’ bench just minutes later, exhibiting a smile and displaying a sizable bandage encasing his left arm. He subsequently participated in the post-game congratulatory handshake sequence upon New York’s victory.
Mendoza conveyed that Alvarez was experiencing soreness but was not anticipated to undergo diagnostic imaging.
“It seemed as though the impact was not on the elbow region, but rather more on the triceps muscle area,” Mendoza stated. “We shall assess his condition tomorrow, but at present, we are not intending to conduct any radiographic examinations or similar procedures.”
This incident marked the third occasion within a span of three weeks in which Alvarez sustained an impact to his left arm or hand. His recuperation from the right thumb affliction was temporarily halted on August 27 after his pinky sustained a fracture as a consequence of being struck by a pitched ball while participating in a game for Triple-A Syracuse.
Alvarez was also struck by a pitch delivered by Cole Winn of the Texas Rangers on the preceding Saturday.
New York possesses a lead of 1 1/2 games over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the pursuit of securing the final National League wild card berth.
