Francisco Lindor’s left calf tightened as he rounded third base Wednesday night, a painful twist of fate just hours after the Mets had finally snapped a 12-game losing streak with Juan Soto’s return from a similar injury.
By Thursday afternoon, the diagnosis was clear: an MRI confirmed Lindor’s strain was more severe than Soto’s, prompting manager Carlos Mendoza to place the All-Star shortstop on the 10-day injured list. The move, while expected given Lindor’s visible discomfort during Wednesday’s win over Minnesota, carries added weight due to the player’s extraordinary durability. Over nine full seasons from 2016 through 2025, Lindor missed fewer than 125 games only once and dipped below 152 appearances just twice — a streak of resilience that made this his first trip to the IL since 2021.
The timing deepens the irony. Soto, sidelined since April 3 with a strained right calf, had rejoined the lineup Wednesday and delivered the spark that ended New York’s longest losing streak since 2002. Lindor, who had been laboring around the bases after Francisco Alvarez’s double, grimaced at third but slid feet-first to score, insisting afterward, “You’ve got to score.” That moment — pushing through pain to extend a hard-won victory — now stands as the last full effort before his absence.
Bo Bichette shifts to shortstop as the Mets scramble for internal solutions
With Lindor out, the Mets turned to Bo Bichette, their third baseman and former shortstop, to fill the void immediately. Bichette, who transitioned to third base this spring after the Mets signed him as a free agent, took over at short for Thursday’s series finale against the Twins. The shift underscores the precariousness of New York’s infield depth: Bichette was never regarded as a strong defensive shortstop earlier in his career and finished last season hampered by a knee injury that limited his range.
To provide more stability, the Mets recalled Ronny Mauricio from Triple-A Syracuse, where he had hit five home runs in his last five games, including three on Tuesday. Mendoza indicated Mauricio would receive the majority of playing time at shortstop while Bichette continues to adjust to third base. The call-up represents a calculated gamble — Mauricio, a longtime prospect, missed the entire 2024 season recovering from a knee injury and has yet to reestablish himself at the major league level.
Christian Scott was also recalled to bolster the bullpen, with right-hander Austin Warren optioned to make room — a routine move that nonetheless highlights how thin the Mets’ roster has become amid multiple lower-body injuries.
Lindor’s slow start and lingering hamate fracture add context to the setback
Before the injury, Lindor was already enduring a frustrating start to the season, batting .226/.314/.355 in 105 plate appearances. While his walk and strikeout rates remained solid, his .264 batting average on balls in play suggested some lingering physical limitation. Sources speculate this may be connected to a fractured hamate bone he suffered in February — an injury he recovered from in time to make Opening Day but one that could still be affecting his swing mechanics, and durability.
Despite the setback, Lindor remains resolute. Asked if he believed he would return this season, he replied emphatically, “100%,” repeating it for emphasis. He acknowledged the frustration of watching from the sidelines but expressed confidence in the Mets’ training staff: “This kills me, not being on the field but I trust the trainers and I know they have good care here. I’ll be back. Hopefully sooner rather than later.”
This marks only the third time Lindor has been placed on the injured list in his major league career. He missed the first 19 games of 2019 with Cleveland due to a right calf strain and was sidelined for 36 games in 2021 with the Mets after a right oblique strain. Each previous absence was followed by a strong return, offering a precedent for optimism — though the calf’s role in explosive movement makes this particular injury uniquely disruptive for a player whose value lies in his all-around explosiveness.
How long is Francisco Lindor expected to be out?
While no exact timetable has been given, manager Carlos Mendoza said Lindor “is going to be down for quite a bit here,” suggesting the absence will extend beyond the minimum 10-day IL stint. The severity of the calf strain, deemed worse than Juan Soto’s, indicates a recovery period likely measured in weeks rather than days.
Who will play shortstop for the Mets while Lindor is injured?
Ronny Mauricio has been recalled from Triple-A Syracuse and is expected to receive the majority of playing time at shortstop, with Bo Bichette continuing to play third base as he adjusts to the position after shifting from shortstop earlier this season.