Mets’ Francisco Lindor has hit in spring debut after surgery

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor made his spring coaching debut on Sunday, going 1 for 3 with a run scored in his first recreation again after Feb. 11 hand surgery.

“I think everything’s going in the right direction,” he stated after a rain-shortened 8-1 victory over the Blue Jays. “It was a really good experience. I felt like I was pretty much like myself, and I finished the game healthy. Overall, it’s a good day for me.”

The 32-year-old five-time All-Star had surgery on the hamate bone in his left hand after he felt soreness in his hand and wrist. The unique timetable known as for six weeks of rehab, jeopardizing his potential to be again for the March 26 opener towards the Pirates.

“We just let him loose,” supervisor Carlos Mendoza instructed MLB.com. “No hesitation. Watching him going through his pregame work the last few days, watching him on the back fields, yeah, I think he looked like Francisco Lindor.”

In 160 video games final season, Lindor had an MLB-high 762 plate appearances whereas hitting .267 with 31 homers, 86 RBI and 31 steals.