Francisco Alvarez received an injection in his right ankle last month that allowed him to continue playing this season. Around that time, surgery was deemed possible on the ankle, which had been irritated by a loose body.
The rookie catcher underwent that surgery on Tuesday, according to the team, after receiving further imaging.
Alvarez, 20, is expected to be sidelined from baseball activities for six weeks, according to an industry source, but in position to participate fully in spring training.
The organization’s top prospect, Alvarez, was promoted to the Mets for the final week of the regular season and posted a .167/.286/.500 slash line with one homer in 14 plate appearances. Alvarez was added to the Mets’ wild-card series roster against the Padres and went hitless in one at-bat.
Alvarez has dealt with the loose body — a cartilage fragment lodged in the joint — since his childhood.
He split most of the season between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse. He was shut down for 2 ½ weeks beginning in late August after the ankle flared up, prompting the injection. Alvarez returned to the lineup for Syracuse on Sept. 11 and was selected by the Mets on Sept. 30.
Alvarez is expected to compete in spring training for a spot on the major league roster to open next season. The Mets have catchers Tomas Nido and James McCann under club control, but could carry all three if one isn’t traded.
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