Mets Hayden Senger has proven he deserves more big league chances

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 he’s 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 Alvarez’s 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 impressed, 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.Among 64 catchers who have thrown to second base this season, Senger’s 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.“That looks like fun,” he thought, and he had some time on his hands.“I’ve 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 offe...