Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
The Mets are down another catcher. Buck Showalter confirmed before Wednesday’s game that Tomás Nido was headed to the 10-day IL due to dry eye syndrome. The Mets are calling up veteran Michael Pérez to fill in as the backup catcher to Francisco Álvarez while he’s out. To make room for Pérez on the 40-man roster, Elieser Hernández was transferred to the 60-Day IL.
Showalter explained that the issue was affecting Nido’s vision, particularly in night games, and the team felt it was best to place him on the IL so he could get the issue corrected.
Buck Showalter talks about Tomás Nido's vision issue that will send him to the IL
"It's gotten to a point where it's affecting him a lot more in night games. Just need to get it corrected" pic.twitter.com/tcskplcRi7
— SNY (@SNYtv) May 10, 2023
Pérez appeared in six games for the Mets in 2022 and went 2-for-14 with 3 RBIs. The Mets, of course, recently acquired another catcher in former Yankee and Twin Gary Sánchez who is batting cleanup Wednesday night for the Syracuse Mets. With Nido and Omar Narváez out, the Mets could opt to give Sánchez an opportunity to join the big-league club sooner rather than later.
Álvarez was already getting the majority of the starts at catcher after initially splitting time with Nido when he was called up, but he should now be firmly cemented as the Mets’ starter at least until Narváez returns. The rookie hit his second and third home runs on Tuesday night and is now slashing .244/.281/.444 after a slow start.
