LATEST NEWS

April 23: C Francisco Alvarez (torn UCL in left thumb) has successful surgery
As expected, Alvarez underwent surgery to repair his torn UCL in his thumb on Tuesday in Los Angeles. Afterward, the Mets clarified their starting catcher's timeline, reporting that a typical return to play for this type of injury takes around eight weeks.

"We're looking at eight weeks because of the position he plays, obviously, and it's the left thumb -- the receiving [thumb] as a catcher," manager Carlos Mendoza said. "We've got to be mindful. I know he's going to try to push it, but we've got to make sure we get him back healthy."

April 23: RHP Max Kranick (left hamstring strain) activated from 15-day IL and optioned to Triple-A Syracuse
Kranick, an offseason waiver claim who strained his hamstring early in Spring Training, completed four starts on a Minor League rehab assignment and is now considered a healthy player. Although he's not yet fully stretched out, Kranick threw 51 pitches in his final outing Sunday and is built up enough to join Syracuse's rotation.

Kranick has a fourth option year, which gave the Mets the ability to stash him in the Minors until they need him as a rotation depth piece.

• All Mets transactions

REHABBING

DH J.D. Martinez (back tightness)
Expected return: Possibly April 26
Martinez could make his Mets debut when the team returns home Friday for its series opener against the Cardinals. For the Mets to green-light him, Martinez must come away from back-to-back games with Triple-A Syracuse without issue. He went 1-for-4 with an RBI in the first of those games Tuesday and is scheduled to suit up again on Wednesday.

The veteran slugger's Mets debut remains delayed due to the lower back tightness that he experienced while ramping up in the Minors following his March 23 signing. Martinez received a cortisone shot in his back on April 9, resumed swinging a bat the week of April 15 and returned to Minor League play six days later.

He hit .271 with 33 home runs, 103 RBIs and an .893 OPS for the Dodgers last season. (Last updated: April 23)

10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST

C Francisco Alvarez (torn ligament in left thumb)
Expected return: Late June
Alvarez, who tore a ligament in his left thumb in an April 19 game against the Dodgers, underwent surgery to fix it four days later. The Mets expect him to miss approximately eight weeks. They plan to be careful with their starting backstop, given how much stress catching can place on the thumb. For as long as Alvarez is sidelined, Omar Narváez and Tomás Nido will split duties behind the plate. (Last updated: April 23)

RHP Tylor Megill (right shoulder strain)
Expected return: Late April or May
Megill left his season debut on March 31 after four innings due to right shoulder discomfort, which turned out to be a strain. He refrained from throwing for about a week then began ramping up again, throwing his first bullpen session on April 19. He graduated to an "up-down" multi-inning assignment four days later, which is typically the final step before facing hitters.

Megill said this injury is not nearly as bad as the shoulder strain that cost him half a season back in 2022. What remains to be seen is if his rotation spot will be waiting for him when he returns, as José Buttó has been pitching well in Megill's absence. (Last updated: April 23)

LHP Brooks Raley (left elbow inflammation)
Expected return: Early May
Raley, a heavily used reliever who was having trouble recovering between outings, was a surprise addition to the Mets' injured list before their April 21 game against the Dodgers. An MRI revealed no structural damage, and Raley received a cortisone shot to reduce the inflammation in his elbow. He expects to return when first eligible on May 6 or shortly thereafter. (Last updated: April 21)

60-DAY INJURED LIST

RHP Kodai Senga (right posterior shoulder capsule strain)
Expected return: Late May or June
On April 10, the Mets transferred Senga to the 60-day IL, making him ineligible to return until May 27. That considerably clarified the timeline for Senga, who began the equivalent of a Spring Training progression when he resumed throwing off flat ground the week of March 25.

Senga's ramp-up period could last longer than that of a typical pitcher due to the Mets' preference to have him pitch every six days instead of every five. Even during the flat-ground portion of his recovery, Senga took a full week before he started playing catch every day. He was due to throw multiple bullpen sessions the week of April 22 and begin facing hitters after that.

It wouldn't be surprising for Senga's absence to linger into June. (Last updated: April 23)

LHP David Peterson (recovery from left hip surgery)
Expected return: Late May or June
Peterson underwent surgery Nov. 6 to repair a torn labrum in his left hip, an injury that had been bothering him for years. The operation carries a typical recovery timetable of six or seven months. Peterson, who began throwing bullpen sessions in March, is targeting a return to active duty as soon as he's eligible to come off the 60-day IL on May 27. He was due to throw a simulated game the week of April 22, so Peterson is getting close to a Minor League rehab assignment.

Once healthy, he figures to return to his role as a rotation depth option. (Last updated: April 23)

INF Ronny Mauricio (recovery from right knee surgery)
Expected return: Possibly September
Mauricio underwent surgery in early January to repair a torn ACL in his right knee, which he injured during winter ball in the Dominican Republic. A typical return timetable for that operation is eight to 12 months, giving Mauricio an outside chance to rejoin the Mets in September. If not, he'll return in 2025.

The club transferred him to the 60-day IL at the start of Spring Training. (Last updated: Feb. 14)

• More injury news