Acce s the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. PORT ST. LUCIE For a second straight season the Mets will be without Francisco Alvarez for a significant stretch. The catcher fractured the hamate bone in his left hand and will undergo surgery Monday that will sideline him for 6-8 weeks, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. Alvarez sustained the fracture on a swing during live batting practice. The fracture occurred through the force of Alvarezs swing, not a pitch hitting him. Its a big blow when your starting catcher goes down, Mendoza said Sunday at Clover Park. But guys will step up. Guys will get opportunities, what we have in house and I am sure [president of baseball operations] David [Stearns] will Rich Dauer Jersey be looking outside. Francisco Alvarez is expected to mi s time due to a fracture in his left hand and will have surgery. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST Explore More Mendoza added that the expectation is Alvarez will need the full eight weeks because he is a catcher and the injury occurred on his glove hand. By that timeline, Alvarez would return to the Mets lineup in early May. Last season Alvarez slipped rounding first base and tore a ligament in his left thumb that nece sitated surgery that cost him seven weeks. Francisco Alvarez (r.) walks off the mound with Clay Holmes during the Mets Grapefruit League game Feb. 27. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post His initial return gave the lineup a jolt, but he struggled for most of the second half, finishing with a .237/.307/.403 slash line with 11 homers and 47 RBIs. Backup Luis Torrens will move into the starters role in Alvarezs absence. The catching depth in camp includes Chris Williams, Hayden Senger and Jakson Reetz. Francisco Alvarez is expected to mi s six-to-eight weeks. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST Francisco Alvarez takes batting practice during the Mets spring training se sion Feb. 16. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post These guys can handle a pitching staff, they can receive so we feel good, Mendoza said. [Torrens] will get a good opportunity now. Alvarez will join pitchers Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas on the injured list to begin the season. Manaea with a right oblique strain and Montas that will keep him out until at least mid-May. [Alvarez] is a team leader and any length of absence is unfortunate, Stearns said. We know he is going to be back, this is a relatively standard injury. We have gone through these before here, so we will be able to weather it. Clay Holmes, in his month-plus of workouts with Alvarez, has come to appreciate the catchers devotion to the pitchers. Alvy has been great just the energy and how much he cares kind of bleeds over in this clubhouse, Holmes said. Just being here a short time you can feel that and see that. What he puts in behind the plate, its pretty incredible to see just how much he wants to be involved with the pitching. Torrens arrived in a trade with the Yankees last May and initially provided a spark filling in for Alvarez before settling into the backup role. Torrens appeared in 47 games last season and posted a .229/.292/.665 slash line with three homers and 15 RBIs. Williams, 27, has the most offensive potential among the backup catchers in camp. Delivering insights on all things Amazins Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! A career minor leaguer, last season he hit 17 homers for the Twins Triple-A affiliate. Senger, 27, played 48 games for Triple-A Syracuse last season and produced a .725 OPS. Reetz, 28, played six games for the Giants last season. He also played two games for the Nationals in 2021. Reetz blasted a grand slam in the 7-6 exhibition victory over the Nationals. It was the second hit for Reetz in 11 at-bats this spring. Tyler Wilson Jersey