Francisco Lindor Poised for Opening Day Return

Francisco Lindor, the New York Mets’ starting shortstop, is on track for an Opening Day return. He made his first appearance of the spring in a rain-shortened game against the Toronto Blue Jays, where he went 1-for-3 in four innings. This marks a significant milestone for Lindor after recovering from a left hamate bone injury that required surgery.

Injury Background

Before spring training began, Lindor underwent surgery on February 11 to address his injury. Expected recovery times for hamate injuries typically range from four to eight weeks. Mets president of baseball operations, David Stearns, indicated that Lindor would need about six weeks for a full recovery.

Spring Training Performance

• Date of return: March 26 against the Pittsburgh Pirates
• Game performance: 1 hit in 3 at-bats
• Opposing team: Toronto Blue Jays
• Final score of the game: Mets 8, Blue Jays 1

Despite initial concerns regarding his availability for Opening Day, Lindor is making swift progress. In today’s game, he was initially scheduled for two at-bats but ended with a third due to the Mets’ strong offensive display against Toronto’s pitcher, Grant Rogers. Lindor expressed that the experience of returning to the field was positive, stating, “It was a really good experience. I felt like I was pretty much like myself, and I finished the game healthy.”

Future Plans and Monitoring

The Mets plan to manage Lindor’s return carefully. They intend to have him play every other day leading up to the season opener to ensure he is fully prepared. As he continues to integrate into the lineup, the team remains optimistic about his readiness for the March 26 game.

Overall, Lindor’s return to the Mets highlights not only his resilience but also the team’s commitment to cautious rehabilitation. With no setbacks reported thus far, all indications suggest that he will be a key player for the Mets as they approach the new season.