NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets are hopeful Francisco Alvarez, already playing with a broken pinkie on his left hand and a torn UCL in his right thumb, dodged another injury Tuesday night when the catcher was hit by a pitch on his upper left arm.

Alvarez appeared to be in serious pain after getting drilled by a 100 mph fastball from San Diego Padres rookie right-hander Bradgley Rodríguez in the eighth inning of the Mets’ 8-3 victory. The 23-year-old bent down behind home plate and clutched his left arm as he slowly walked up the first base line with manager Carlos Mendoza and an athletic trainer.

Alvarez was lifted for pinch-runner Hayden Senger but appeared on the Mets’ bench minutes later, smiling and sporting a large wrap around his left arm. He later joined the handshake line fol

See Full Page