Alvarez (thumb) optimistic after taking BP

NEW YORK -- After weeks of not swinging the bat because of a torn ligament in his left thumb, catcher Francisco Alvarez took batting practice before the Mets' 7-2 loss to the Giants on Saturday afternoon and didn’t have any problems after taking 22 swings in the cage.

Although he was wearing a splint, Alvarez was hitting almost nothing but line drives and hit at least one ball over the fence. After the session was over, the backstop said he “felt like a baseball player.” He didn’t rule out using the splint once he is activated from the injured list.

The next steps for Alvarez are unknown. Before going on a rehab assignment, Alvarez still has to take swings against the velocity machine, catch bullpens and take live batting practice from a pitcher.

“I don’t know if it’s a few more weeks or days," Alvarez said. "If I keep feeling good and I don't feel anything in my thumb, maybe a couple of weeks."

Alvarez hurt his thumb against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on April 19th when he stumbled around first base after reaching on an error. As he began to lose his balance, Alvarez stuck out his left hand in an attempt to break his fall. But his thumb bent back at an extreme angle.

Since that day, Alvarez had a chance to talk to Royals catcher Salvador Perez, who sustained a similar injury in 2022. The two have known each other for a couple of years while working out in Miami.

“He told me to take my time and I could play with the splint. I feel better with that,” Alvarez said.