With the New York Metsâ first official spring training workout scheduled for Wednesday, the team found out that it may be without its five-time All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor for at least the duration of spring training and possibly beyond. The shortstop, entering the fifth season of his 10-year, $341 million contract, is looking at the possibility of surgery for an injury to a bone in his wrist, president of baseball operations David Stearns announced on Tuesday.
Lindor âwill be evaluated for a stress reaction in his left hamate bone,â according to an ESPN.com summary of Stearnsâ announcement. According to Stearns, the hamate bone has been causing soreness for Lindor over the past âcouple of years.â
Stearns did not specify whether Lindorâs hamate bone had suffered a fracture, calling the injury only a âstress reaction.â But the medical evaluation set for Wednesday will likely determine whether Lindorâs hamate is fractured, and if surgery is required.
Lindor Could Miss Six Weeks
The hamate is a âtriangular-shaped boneâ located on the outside of the wrist just below the pinky finger bone. Fractures of the hamate âare rare and underreported, and consist of approximately 2 percent of fractures from the carpal bones,â according to the medical site Physiopedia. âThese injuries are usually misdiagnosed or confused with simple wrist sprains. Delayed diagnosis is not uncommon.â
If Lindorâs hamate injury requires surgery, the 32-year-old shortstop faces an absence of about six weeks, according to Stearnsâ statement. The Mets boss did not predict that Lindor would be available for Opening Day on March 26 at Citi Field, when the Amazins will face the Pittsburgh Pirates, but he did say that even if surgery is required, he âwould remain optimistic that Francisco would be back for Opening Day,â as quoted by the New York cable network SNY.
Lindor reported a few days early for spring training and began informal workouts with teammates, and that is when he felt a recurrence of the wrist pain, according to Stearns.
What Happens if Lindor is Out Longer Than Opening Day?
If the 2011 Cleveland Guardians first-round draft pick does require surgery to repair the hamate bone, it would be Lindorâs second procedure of the offseason. According to an MLB Trade Rumors report, âLindor underwent a debridement procedure on his right elbow early in the offseason.â
But Stearnsâ announcement on Tuesday was the first public mention of Lindorâs apparent hamate bone injury.
In the event that Lindor does not recover as quickly as Stearns believes he will, the Mets president said that Ronny Mauricio or Vidal Brujan could start the season at shortstop. Mauricio is ranked as the No. 6 prospect in the Mets system by MLB Pipeline, which said in a scouting report that the 24-year-old âhas been brimming with potential since signing out of the Dominican Republic for $2.1 million in July 2017.â
In 61 games at the Major League level in 2025, Mauricio posted a .662 OPS with six home runs while striking out 54 times in 168 official at-bats â a 32 percent rate.
Brujan is a 28-year-old journeyman who has played for five teams in five MLB seasons before the Mets purchased his contract from the Minnesota Twins in January.
The Mets apparently do not intend to move high-profile free agent acquisition Bo Bichette back to shortstop from the third base position they intend for him, even if Lindor cannot play, according to SNY.
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