Francisco Alvarez needs surgery for a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb. But New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza says there's a chance the slugging catcher can play through the pain.

New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez will be placed on the injured list with a right thumb injury, multiple media outlets reported Tuesday. Alvarez sustained the injury while sliding into second base during the seventh inning of New York's 7-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday in the Little League Classic.