Mets’ Francisco Lindor placed on injured list with calf strain

NEW YORK — Even the Mets‘wins these days are clouded with disappointment.

A day after ending their baffling 12-game losing streak and welcoming back Juan Soto from the injured list, the Mets suffered one other important loss when star shortstop Francisco Lindor went on the 10-day injured list with a left calf strain.

Lindor, who exited Wednesday’s 3-2 win towards the Twins after scoring a run within the fourth inning, he underwent an MRI on Thursday morning. A timetable for his return has not been decided, however he’s anticipated to overlook extra time than Soto, who was out for simply lower than three weeks with a left calf strain earlier than returning Wednesday.

“He’s going to be down for quite a bit,” supervisor Carlos Mendoza mentioned. “We knew right away with Juan that it was kind of the best-case scenario, and it was going to be on the short side of things. I don’t think we’re dealing with the same thing here.”

Lindor has performed by means of a wide range of illnesses in latest seasons, together with decrease again soreness in 2024 and a damaged proper pinkie toe final season. He has not been on the injured list since straining his proper indirect in July 2021.

“We’re athletes,” Lindor, 32, mentioned. “We depend on our body. Stuff like this happens. It’s part of the game. It comes with the territory, and you got to toughen up and try to find a way to get healthy.”

The Mets referred to as up infielder Ronny Mauricio from Triple-A Syracuse for the second time this season to switch Lindor each on the lively roster and at shortstop. Mendoza mentioned the plan is for the 25-year-old Mauricio, a former prime prospect who has performed in 89 video games over three main league seasons, to log a lot of the taking part in time at shortstop with Bo Bichette as his backup.

Bichette began at shortstop for the Toronto Blue Jays seven over seasons earlier than signing with the Mets over the offseason to play third base.

“Mauricio’s going to get an opportunity here to play,” Mendoza mentioned. “Depending on matchups, off days for some of the guys, Bo will slide over at times, but, in the meantime, Mauricio is going to get the majority of the opportunities here.”

The Mets additionally recalled right-hander Christian Scott from Triple-A Syracuse to start out Thursday, and right-hander Austin Warren was despatched down.

The calf damage extends an arduous monthslong stretch for Lindor. The five-time All-Star underwent proper elbow surgical procedure in October, which saved him from being cleared for insurance coverage for the World Baseball Classic. In late February, whereas coaching with the staff earlier than the official begin of spring coaching, Lindor fractured his left hamate bone, which sidelined him for many of camp.

He returned in time for Opening Day, however he toiled by means of one other gradual begin on the plate — a sample that has emerged over the course of his profession — and started the season batting .184 with one dwelling run, one RBI and a .577 OPS by means of 19 video games. He was discovering his rhythm over the previous week, going 7-for-17 with a house run, 4 RBIs and a 1.092 OPS over 5 video games.

Then Francisco Alvarez scorched a line drive to the right-center-field hole within the fourth inning Wednesday.

Lindor raced from first to 3rd on Alvarez’s hit and continued dwelling to present the Mets a 2-1 lead. It was there, when he rounded third base, that the discomfort in his left calf surfaced. Lindor’s dash slowed down as he grimaced and labored, making a seemingly simple run a detailed play on the plate. Lindor simply beat the relay throw dwelling with a feet-first slide and remained on the bottom with his head down for an additional second.

“Because I knew I got it, I knew something happened,” Lindor mentioned. “I was just hoping it wasn’t that bad.”

Lindor was instantly faraway from the sport and changed by Bichette, however he mentioned he was inspired by his capacity to stroll off the sector. He mentioned his calf felt higher Thursday than his proper calf did the day after he injured it in early February of 2019 whereas he was with cleveland. Lindor was reinstated from the injured list on April 20, almost three weeks into the season and greater than two months after struggling the damage.

Lindor insisted he’ll “100%” return this season. When it’s unclear. For now, he’ll keep off his ft with heavy remedy on icing and tender tissue work whereas his teammates, winners for the primary time in almost two weeks, will look to stack extra wins with out him.

“Whenever I miss games, it is disappointing,” Lindor mentioned. “But at the end of the day, I’m super encouraged with what I saw yesterday. I feel like the group is in the right direction and the guys are ready. They’re hungry and they’re ready to start winning games.”