The New York Mets received concerning news Tuesday night when catcher Francisco Alvarez was forced to leave the game with a right knee injury. The team announced he will undergo imaging on Wednesday to determine the severity of the issue.

For a team already navigating a competitive season, this is a tough blow. Catcher is one of those positions where depth is always thin, and the Mets know this all too well. Alvarez missed significant time during the 2025 season due to injury and ineffectiveness, even spending time in Triple-A to work through his struggles.

Fortunately, the Mets have been here before. Veteran backup Luis Torrens remains on the roster, providing a reliable option behind the plate. Torrens is comfortable filling in as needed, having done so last season. But if Alvarez faces an extended absence, the team will likely turn to Hayden Senger, the only other catcher on the 40-man roster, who could get the call to the majors.

The exact moment of Alvarez's injury remains unclear—he may have been hurt earlier in Tuesday's game rather than at the point of his removal. Regardless, a knee injury requiring imaging is never a positive sign, especially for a catcher whose entire game relies on mobility behind the plate. Knees are critical to a catcher's livelihood, and any issue there raises immediate red flags.

At this point, the Mets are surely bracing for the worst while hoping for the best. They'll be holding their breath until those images come back, knowing that another extended absence for their young backstop could reshape their plans moving forward.