WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez needs an MRI on his right thumb after he jammed his hand on a head-first slide into second base against Seattle.

Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports that Alvarez will begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday with Double-A Corpus Christi. He’ll serve as a designated hitter in his first rehab game back, and the club plans to have him down for “a few games” before he can be activated off the injured list.