Francisco Lindor went 1-for-3 in his first game of Grapefruit League action this spring on Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays, in a massive positive step for the New York Mets.
The star shortstop singled and reached on an error in his 2026 debut, roughly five weeks after undergoing left hamate bone surgery that put the start of the regular season in jeopardy. The Mets, though, had remained optimistic from the outset that Lindor would be ready to go by Opening Day, and he has checked all the necessary boxes to intensify his ramp-up with a week-and-a-half to go before a new year opens in Citi Field against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 26.
“He’s ready to go,” manager Caros Mendoza said. “He went through his progression, and it got to a point now where it’s time for him to start playing with us after checking all the boxes and continuing to rack up good days. Here he is.”
Lindor let go of his bat with that left hand in each of his first two at-bats — the first being a strikeout and the second a grounder in which he reached on an error — but it is believed to be more of a timing issue than pain management. After pulling what would have been a home run foul down the right-field line in his third at-bat, he roped a 104.5 mph single to right field while keeping both hands on the bat.
The power aspect of Lindor’s offense will be closely monitored, as it is usually the last thing to return after hamate bone surgery. Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez experienced the very same thing last season when he underwent the procedure.
The very early returns at least suggest that it is not an issue.
“I saw it right away the other day when he was taking BP. He looks normal,” Mendoza said. “There’s no hesitation there. He’s swinging the bat as he normally would. Pretty sure he’s going to feel it… But as far as the strength, he’s in a good place right now.”
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