According to David Stearns in a pre-spring training media session in Port St. Lucie, Francisco Lindor is seeing a specialist about a stress reaction in the hamate bone on his left hand. Surgery is on the table, which would have an approximately six week recovery time. The Mets believe that, even if surgery is required, Lindor will be ready for Opening Day. He will be evaluated tomorrow.
Much like his teammate Francisco Alvarez, as well as Mets legends Jason Vargas and Tim Tebow, Lindor is the latest to deal with hamate issues, a bone whose name that I imagine that only osteopaths and baseball fans know. Lindor, a switch hitter, throws right-handed, and so this is a fracture on his glove hand. Lingering results from Alvarez’s injury were reported to be part of his ineffectiveness last season, though it is impossible to know to what degree.
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Stearns named Vidal Bruján, Jackson Cluff, Grae Kessinger, Ronny Mauricio and Christian Arroyo as potential players to get reps at shortstop if Lindor has to begin the season on the Injuted List, but reiterated that the team believes that, even if surgery is needed, Lindor is expected to be ready for Opening Day.
Additionally, Stearns said that he does not know specifically why Lindor was not approved for insurance for the World Baseball Classic and thus could not suit up for Team Puerot Rico, saying that the insurance decision was “not dependent on the clubs.”
On the injury front, Stearns discussed A.J. Minter’s return after undergoing lat surgery last spring. Minter is expected to return in early May.
Stearns also revealed that Juan Soto would be moving to left field for the 2026 season, with Stearns saying that is where Soto “feels most comfortable.” Generally considered an easier defensive position because of the lack of arm strength needed, this should help the Mets’ overall outfield defense and may help Soto stick in the field for a little longer before his eventual migration to designated hitter. Stearns said the decision was made jointly between Soto and the club. “Juan was working out in LF…he felt really comfortable there. It made sense for us from a roster perspective. Not something we had contemplated, but as we’ve had conversations it made sense.” The expectation is that Carson Benge is the front runner for now-open right field, but Stearns mentioned Brett Baty as an option there as well.
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As far as the rotation goes, Stearns said that they would discuss a six-man rotation “if they get to that point,” and mentioned that Tobias Myers will be working out as a starter in spring to give them the maximum amount of flexibility with his role.
Finally, Ryan Clifford, one of the prospects the Mets acquired at the 2023 trade deadline, will be starting the year at Triple-A Syracuse. Clifford, who has played first base, the corner outfield spots, and also got at-bats at DH, batted .237/.356/.470 with 29 home runs in 139 games across Double-A and Triple-A last season.
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