If there is one team that is ready to face 2026 with a renewed squad and hopes, it is the Mets. However, the season has not yet begun and bad news is already beginning to arrive as one of their key men could miss the start of the season.
What happened to Francisco Lindor?
Francisco Lindor faces possible surgery on his left wrist due to a stress reaction in the hamate bone (os hamatum), one of the eight bones that make up the carpus in the wrist, and although it is a tiny bone, this is an especially delicate injury for hitters.
The club’s president of baseball operations, David Stearns, confirmed that the shortstop will be evaluated by a specialist and that surgery is a real option. If the procedure is performed, the estimated recovery time would be approximately six weeks, although the front office remains optimistic.
We are optimistic that whatever Francisco needs, he will be ready for Opening Day
According to Stearns, the discomfort in the hamate area is not new. Lindor has dealt with intermittent discomfort over the past few seasons, but decided to report it now after feeling that the pain persisted when he started training.
This new setback adds to a cleanup surgery on his right elbow in October, which had already ruled him out of the 2026 World Baseball Classic with Puerto Rico.
Francisco Lindor’s role in the Mets’ 2026 project
Lindor is coming off a solid campaign in which he hit 31 home runs, stole 31 bases and drove in 86 runs, putting together a 30-30 season that put him among the elite in MLB in 2025. His performance was instrumental for a team that finished with an 83-79 record and is now looking to make the leap to the postseason.
During his arrival at the camp in Port St. Lucie, Lindor himself had expressed total confidence in the project, stressing that the new additions would make 2026 a “fantastic year” for the fans.
What options do the Mets have if Lindor undergoes surgery?
If Lindor is unavailable at the start of the season, the Mets have several internal alternatives at shortstop. Vidal Brujan, Ronny Mauricio, Christian Arroyo and Jackson Cluff are options being considered during Spring Training games, although none offer the offensive impact and leadership of the captain.
In addition, the team has strengthened other areas, such as the outfield, where Juan Soto will move to left field to make room in right field for other young and veteran players.
Meanwhile, the franchise and its fans are crossing their fingers and lighting candles for their leader to return soon and lead the Mets’ ambitious project from the start of the season.
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