Mets' Powerhouse Duo Returns: Alvarez and McNeil Back to Boost Playoff Hopes

Welcome, sports fans, to another delightful installment of the ever-evolving saga known as the New York Mets! Here we are, back in the balmy heart of Washington, where the excitement is as palpable as the spring pollen in the air. Today, speaking personally, it’s less about the pollen and more about the return of two crucial Mets players, injecting fresh life into this team’s already impressive early season form.

Now, onto the mainstays: Francisco Alvarez, our catching prodigy, and Jeff McNeil, the infielder with a flair for batting brilliance. Their return from the injured list is not just a roster update; it’s the kind of news that makes any sports enthusiast feel like a kid on Christmas morning. It’s been a tough start for Alvarez, sidelined by a fracture in his left hand—how fortuitous then, that the Mets managed to, in their own words, thrive like plants in the sunlight despite his absence.

And Jeff McNeil, well, I must confess, his excitement is something to savor. Playing his first game of the season, he exclaimed, “Pretty excited. Feels like Opening Day for me because it is.” It’s these moments that remind us why we love this game; this intangible excitement, the rebirth of Opening Day spirit.

The Mets, as you might’ve heard, haven’t exactly been in a slump without them. Winning seven straight games to boast an 18-7 record, they’re like a runaway train sitting five games ahead of Philadelphia in the NL East. They’ve positioned themselves wonderfully, yet the return of these stalwarts adds a new edge.

Catch my drift yet? The buzz for Nats-Mets rivalry is buzzing. Alvarez, coming back from injury, has shown a resilience that’s hard not to admire. Last season, his bat found its mark .237 times per three attempts, with 11 home runs and 47 RBIs, not a bad tally for someone just starting out. His rehab assignment? A modest .179 average, but you can’t really blame him. Transitioning back from minor leagues to the big stage isn’t like flicking on a light switch—it’s a journey, like finding the perfect spot for your favorite armchair.

And McNeil, our two-time All-Star, isn’t one to shy away from a challenge either. His metrics this season? A .238 average, 12 homers, and 44 RBIs, a testament to his consistency. His recovery story reads like a seasoned athlete’s autobiography: .393 in eight rehab games, showing that the spirit of the game doesn’t take a vacation.

The Mets’ manager, Carlos Mendoza, captures the spirit perfectly, “They are a big part of this team. Even when they weren’t playing, they were around…” Leadership is more than just a bat, it’s the off-field camaraderie and experience that keeps the team’s spirit high.

Should McNeil take a break infielding, there’s talk he might play center field. A tactical maneuver by Mendoza, one that echoes the many chess games played in the dugout.

Speaking of splitting time, Alvarez will share the catching duties with Luis Torrens. That’s a nice problem to have when you’ve got two capable catchers. As for roster accommodations, infielder Brett Baty and catcher Hayden Senger have been optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, after a 4-3 victory over Philadelphia.

Exciting times in Washington, indeed! Here’s where my sports aficionado heart is brimming with anticipation for what’s to unfold in this series—and dare I say, the season? To delve deeper into this Mets narrative, dive into the original report. LEARN MORE. Remember, I’m as excited as you are to see what unfolds. Cheers to the sweet return of Alvarez and McNeil, and here’s to fantastic baseball!arod from a thrashing by the Philadelphia Phillies. When spring training’s sunflowers in his obliques—quite the floral mishap.

So as the saying goes, boys to play, and the Mets to, well, Mets on. To explore this story’s ins and outs, you might want to seek out the original report. LEARN MORE.

As always, stay tuned, sports fans, because this season promises more thrills and spills. Here’s to the return of Alvarez and McNeil—and the continued journey of the Mets. Keep the passion for the game burning bright, amigos!

WASHINGTON — The New York Mets activated catcher Francisco Alvarez and second baseman Jeff McNeil from the injured list Friday, and both were in the lineup to make their season debut in the opener of a four-game series against the Washington Nationals.

“Pretty excited,” McNeil said. “Feels like Opening Day for me because it is.”

Alvarez fractured the hamate bone in his left hand during practice on March 8 and underwent surgery two days later. McNeil had been out since straining his right oblique March 10 in a spring training game.

The Mets have thrived despite the absence of both lineup mainstays. New York has won seven in a row and entered Friday 18-7, five games ahead of second-place Philadelphia in the NL East.

“I think we’ve been playing really well and I think we’ve put ourselves in a very good position,” Alvarez said via an interpreter.

The 23-year-old Alvarez hit .237 with 11 home runs and 47 RBIs last season. He hit .179 with a homer and three RBIs in 10 games during a rehabilitation assignment over three minor league levels this month.

McNeil, a two-time All-Star who has played in at least 120 games for the Mets in each full season since 2019, hit .238 with 12 homers and 44 RBIs in 2024. The 33-year-old hit .393 with two homers and three RBIs in eight rehab games over three levels since April 11.

“They are a big part of this team,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Even when they weren’t playing, they were around. Last year, they were a big part of this team. That’s what it’s going to take. It’s going to take more than 26 guys.”

Mendoza said it is possible McNeil plays some in center field. While he has played the outfield in 294 games during his seven-year career, he made his only three appearances in center in 2023.

Alvarez will split time with Luis Torrens, who has hit .241 with a homer and eight RBIs as the Mets’ primary catcher the last four weeks.

“I’m going to try to keep him as active as possible,” Mendoza said. “He played really well for us and he earned opportunities. We’re getting Alvy back, and he’s going to get opportunities as well. I think that’s a good problem to have. I could see both of them playing.”

To create room on the roster, New York optioned infielder Brett Baty and catcher Hayden Senger to Triple-A Syracuse after a 4-3 victory Wednesday over Philadelphia.