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. Francisco Alvarez is close. The young catcher sat Thursday after playing consecutive days and is set to catch games with Double-A Binghamton on Friday and Saturday, after which he could be ready for his season debut. We will have a conversation after he gets through those two days and see if he needs more at-bats and if he feels like hes ready to go, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Thursday of Alvarez, who required surgery last month to remove the fractured hamate bone in his left hand. Once Alvarezs time arrives, this major league chance likely will end for Hayden Senger but the belief is there will be more chances to come. Senger, a 27-year-old rookie who has toiled in the minor leagues for nine seasons, has impre sed, particularly defensively, in his first 11 games as a major leaguer. He has thrown out three of five potential base-stealers with an arm that apparently is unrivaled in baseball. Mets pitcher Reed Garrett (75) and catcher Hayden Senger (30) celebrate after defeating the Miami Marlins on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. Noah K. Murray-NY Post Among 64 catchers who have thrown to second base this season, Sengers average velocity of 88.7 mph is the best in the game. Dating back to his childhood, he always has known he has a gifted arm. He honed the gift during the early days of the pandemic in 2020. Without a team to play for, Senger worked out at PRP Baseball in Indiana and looked around at all the equipment that was intended for pitchers: weighted balls and medicine balls designed to build arm strength. Explore More That looks like fun, he thought, and he had some time on his hands. Ive always had that top-range velocity, Senger said, but getting to it is easier now. In his first taste of the majors, Senger has handled pitchers well, owns strong framing and blocking numbers and has hit a bit. He has gone 5-for-22 (.227) with a double and has proven an adept bunter. Quality defensive catchers find a niche in the game even if they are not asked to do much offensively. Hayden Senger Micker Adolfo Jersey breaks his bat on a single during the fifth inning when the New York Mets played the Miami Marlins on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at Citi Field. Robert Sabo for NY Post Getting the opportunity is something that is special to me, Senger said before he backed up Luis Torrens as the . Its been an honor to be here with this team. Ive kind of always thought I could catch in the big leagues. It was just the hitting part that Ive always had reservations about. But now I feel like I can give them a [quality at-bat] right now. Jeff McNeil went 0-for-3 and started in center field with Low-A St. Lucie as the Mets search for other options after Jose Siri fractured his tibia. CHECK OUT THE AND Recovering from an oblique strain, McNeil is expected to join either Binghamton or Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday and play back-to-back games in the infield. Tyrone Taylor started in center, and Mendoza said he would be comfortable using Brandon Nimmo a former center fielder who has been pushed to left at the spot. It is po sible that Luisangel Acua, who played some center field in the minors last season, becomes an option. Well see, Mendoza said of Acua. Hes going to spend a lot of time out there with Antoan [ Richardson , the outfield coach]. Hes playing well, so hes earning opportunities here. Tyrone Taylor of the New York Mets makes a play in the fourth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field on Thursday, April 17, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST The Mets also called up outfielder Jos Azcar, who could see time at center. In summoning Azcar, the Mets optioned righty Justin Hagenman, officially placed Siri on the 10-day IL and recalled Max Kranick, who had been briefly optioned Wednesday. Brett Baty (2-for-3 with a double and RBI) has hit safely in five of his six past games. 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! Baty is showing the things hes capable of, Mendoza said. Paul Blackburn (right knee inflammation) is expected to throw two innings with High-A Brooklyn on Saturday. Darryl Strawberry, who was on hand to support the Mets annual Black Legacy Game that celebrates the history of black Mets players, was informed that the Department of Defense had scrubbed and in the army. Shame on them if they do that, Strawberry said. Shame on them because of a person that had to fight so hard, and wasnt just fighting for himself. He was fighting for any player of color that puts on the uniform, from black players to Latin players. No one puts on a uniform, of color, if it had not been for him and the door was open for him to do that. So it would be a shame if they cant keep that right, keep it the way it should be because it represents something more than just you can probably ever imagine. Additional reporting by Andrew Crane Sean Burke Jersey