The New York Mets ’ 8-3 win over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday should have been all about celebration. Instead, hearts sank in the bottom of the eighth when Francisco Alvarez, the team’s young cornerstone behind the plate, crumpled in pain after being drilled in the left arm by a 100 mph fastball.

For a brief moment, Citi Field went silent. The Mets have been battling to keep their season afloat, and the sight of Alvarez clutching his arm felt like a cruel twist of fate. Given his laundry list of injuries this year, it almost felt inevitable — like watching a glass figurine wobble on the edge of a shelf.

A season defined by pain and perseverance

Alvarez’s 2025 campaign has been a patchwork of grit and bad luck. He’s currently playing through a sprained UCL in his right thumb and a bro

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