Mindset behind Francisco Alvarez’s Mets return — and resurgence

Francisco Alvarez is showing early signs of a rebound for the New York Mets after a thumb injury slowed him earlier this season. In a small sample of return performances, the 22-year-old catcher drove in two runs with a double in Friday night’s win over the Washington Nationals, and he homered on Wednesday. He has hits in four of his previous six games, suggesting his timing may be returning as he pushes for regular playing time.

Alvarez told The Post before Saturday’s Mets-Nationals game at Citi Field that he was feeling good and focused on competing and doing his best for the team.

The notes accompanying the reporting emphasize that the sample size is small, but the results are encouraging for a Mets club looking for reliable production from its young catcher as he works his way back from the injury, with the team monitoring his workload and continued progress.

The sequence of recent games — a home run on Wednesday and a two-run knock on Friday — is being watched closely by team officials and scouts alike, who caution that a stretch of success in a small sample does not guarantee a sustained uptick. Still, the early returns align with Alvarez’s stated aim: to compete and contribute for a Mets team hoping to maximize its young talent as the season progresses.

Ultimately, the Mets are balancing patience with opportunity, letting Alvarez's at-bats speak for themselves as he rebuilds timing and confidence after the thumb issue. If the current trend continues, the refrain among Mets observers will be that Alvarez is reclaiming his rhythm and that his mindset—compete and contribute—remains central to his approach on the field.