Ranking the top 10 catchers in MLB for 2025
Our eight-part position series continues with the top 10 catchers entering the 2025 season.MARCH 18
FRANCISCO ALVAREZ
NL East Preview: Juan Soto joins Mets in power-packed division with Phillies and Braves
Juan Soto is back in the NL East, a much richer man wearing a different uniformMARCH 17 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mets' Jeff McNeil to open season on injured list with oblique strain
New York Mets All-Star infielder Jeff McNeil will open the season on the injured list because of a strained right obliqueMARCH 13 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mets' Predicted Move After Unfortunate Francisco Alvarez News The New York Mets have decisions to make after Francisco Alvarez’s injury.
MARCH 10 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
New York Mets Provide Devastating Injury News on Young Superstar Catcher The New York Mets provided devastating injury news on starting catcher Francisco Alvarez on Sunday, with Jeff Passan of ESPN saying he needs...
MARCH 10 • SI.COM
"This is awful, New York sports in shambles" - Fans worried as Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez ruled out 6-8 weeks after surgery The New York Mets and New York Yankees were projected to be two of the best teams in MLB heading into the 2025 season.
MARCH 9 • SPORTSKEEDA.COM
Mets C Francisco Alvarez (hand) to miss 6-8 weeks New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez fractured a hamate bone in his left hand and will be out six to eight weeks, manager Carlos Mendoza...
MARCH 9 • KANSASCITY.COM
Mets Starting Catcher Francisco Alvarez to Miss Time After Surgery Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez will miss six-to-eight weeks after suffering a fractured left hamate bone, an injury that will require surger...
MARCH 9 • THENEWSTRIBUNE.COM
Mets catcher Alvarez is out 6-8 weeks with a fractured left hand that needs surgery
New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez has a fractured hamate bone in his left hand that will require surgeryMARCH 9 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mets catcher Alvarez to miss 6-8 weeks with fractured left hand Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez will miss 6-8 weeks with a fracture in the hamate bone on his left hand, manager Carlos Mendoza said on Sunda...
MARCH 9 • MLB.COM
Out with hand fracture Alvarez was diagnosed with a fractured hamate bone in his left hand and will be sidelined 6-to-8 weeks after undergoing surgery Monday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Impact Alvarez last saw Grapefruit League action Friday against the Nationals, but it's unclear exactly how he suffered the injury. The 23-year-old missed over seven weeks in 2024 due to a torn UCL in his left thumb, and he struggled to find much consistency when healthy with 11 homers and a .237/.307/.403 slash line in 100 games. Making his 2025 debut in late April is likely the best-case scenario while coming back from a fracture in his glove hand, but there's a real chance Alvarez doesn't return from the injured list until May.
MARCH 9 • ROTOWIRE
Fantasy Baseball Sleepers 2025: Top 5 underrated catchers to target this upcoming season ft. Francisco Alvarez and Joey Bart The catcher position in fantasy is relatively shallow, which is all the more reason why managers could seek out a valuable fantasy baseball...
MARCH 5 • SPORTSKEEDA.COM
Bad Bunny agency announces deal with Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr.
Rimas Sports, the agency co-owned by Puerto Rican musical artist Bad Bunny whose leaders have been suspended by the baseball players’ union, has announced a management deal with Sa...MARCH 4 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
"He was yelling at me" - Juan Soto reveals real reason behind tapping Mets teammate Francisco Alvarez's helmet It may only be a couple of months for Juan Soto with the New York Mets however it's safe to say that the outfield superstar has always endea...
MARCH 4 • SPORTSKEEDA.COM
Revamped swing in offseason Alvarez retooled his swing mechanics at Maven Baseball Lab this offseason on the recommendation of J.D. Martinez, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports. "I think I can put the ball i...
Impact The 23-year-old catcher is coming off a disappointing 2024 campaign at the plate, managing just 11 homers and a .710 OPS in 100 big-league games after slugging 25 long balls over 123 games for the Mets in 2023. Alvarez's decline was fueled by an increase in his groundball rate (career-high 52.2 percent) and decrease in his hard-hit rate (30.8 percent, nearly a five percent drop from the year before). While at the lab, Alvarez focused on tweaking his stance and lower-body movement to eliminate a tendency to pull off the ball rather than staying square and driving pitches back up the middle. "He wants to be a complete hitter, not just a power hitter," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. "In order for anyone to be a complete hitter, you need to use the whole field." Alvarez's career .221 batting average in the majors doesn't suggest he'll suddenly be challenging for batting titles, but there is plenty of room for improvement in his 2024 performance.
FEBRUARY 14 • ROTOWIRE
Francisco Álvarez proclaims Mets' lineup is 'better than the Dodgers'
Francisco Álvarez would take the Mets' lineup over the reigning World Series champions Dodgers' any day. Here's what he had to say.FEBRUARY 13
MLB Catcher Reveals Pick for 'Best Lineup in Baseball' This Season Francisco Alvarez has some high expectations for one particular lineup in 2025.
FEBRUARY 12 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
Breather in second game Alvarez is out of the lineup for the second game of Monday's doubleheader in Atlanta, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
Impact Perhaps Alvarez would have gotten the start had the Mets failed to capture the first game, but since they did win that contest it makes it an easy decision to rest him for this one. Luis Torrens will catch and bat eighth.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Back in lineup Alvarez (back) is starting at catcher and batting eighth for Sunday's game against the Brewers, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Impact Alvarez left Friday's game against Milwaukee due to back spasms. That kept him out of Saturday's lineup, though he did manage to pinch hit for Luis Torrens in the top of the eighth inning. Since Sept. 1, Alvarez has slashed .231/.355/.538 with five home runs and 14 RBI over 62 plate appearances.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Not starting Saturday Alvarez (back) isn't in the Mets' lineup Saturday against Milwaukee, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Impact Alvarez had to make an early exit from Friday's contest due to back spasms, and while his back his reportedly feeling better, per DiComo, he's not quite ready to return to the starting lineup. Luis Torrens will catch for Jose Quintana instead and bat seventh.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Not starting Saturday Alvarez (back) isn't in the Mets' lineup Saturday against Milwaukee, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Impact Alvarez had to make an early exit from Friday's contest due to back spasms, and while his back is reportedly feeling better, per DiComo, he's not quite ready to return to the starting lineup. Luis Torrens will catch for Jose Quintana and bat seventh.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Exits early Friday Alvarez was removed from Friday's game against the Brewers with an apparent lower-back injury, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Impact Alvarez was grabbing at his back immediately after sliding into third base during the seventh inning and stayed on the ground for some time before being helped into the dugout by the Mets' trainers. No details on his injury have been provided just yet, but Luis Torrens may be in line for a few extra starts behind the plate if Alvarez is unable to play.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Power surge continues Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBI in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Phillies.
Impact The 22-year-old catcher stayed hot, taking Ranger Suarez deep for a solo shot in the second inning before adding a two-run double in the seventh off Orion Kerkering. Alvarez has 11 homers on the season, and five of them have come in his last nine games -- a stretch in which he's batting .286 (8-for-28) with 13 RBI.
SEPTEMBER 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Not in Friday's lineup Alvarez is absent from the lineup for Friday's game versus the Phillies, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Impact Alvarez homered Thursday for the second time over the last three games, but he will be given a day of rest Friday. Luis Torrens will catch for the Mets and bat seventh.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
