NEW YORK -- Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez is scheduled to begin a Minor League rehab assignment later this week, increasing optimism that he can return from a torn right thumb ligament sooner than expected.

Alvarez took batting practice at Citi Field on Monday and will graduate to Minor League games Wednesday or Thursday. Because Alvarez will have missed only a week and a half of game action at that point, he theoretically won’t need a lengthy rehab assignment.

“I couldn’t believe it [Sunday], somebody sent me a video of him hitting back here at Citi Field,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “When I was looking at it, I was like, ‘There’s no way this guy is swinging the bat.’”

This is strictly a pain tolerance issue for Alvarez, who sprained the UCL in his right thumb on Aug. 17 and wil

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