The New York Mets reinstated catcher Francisco Alvarez from the injured list Tuesday in advance of a home game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Alvarez, 24, returns after missing just under a month with a torn meniscus in his right knee that required surgery. The injury occurred during a May 12 at-bat against the Detroit Tigers.
The original timetable indicated Alvarez could miss six to eight weeks, but he is returning in exactly four weeks.
Alvarez was batting .241 with four home runs and 10 RBIs in 37 games to start the season. In five major league seasons, all with the Mets, he is a career .231 hitter with 52 homers and 153 RBIs in 341 games.
Alvarez will assume the roster spot vacated when catcher Hayden Senger was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Monday. Senger, 29, went 2-for-15 with a home run in seven games.
