New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor had surgery on Wednesday to repair a broken hamate bone in his left hand, raising questions about his availability for the season opener. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza remains hopeful Lindor will recover in time to participate on opening day in Port St. Lucie, Florida, following the procedure.
Lindor sought evaluation from a hand specialist after experiencing soreness around his hand and wrist earlier this week. Mendoza noted,
“People are saying six weeks for return of play,”
acknowledging the typical recovery timetable that could threaten Lindor’s readiness.
Despite this, Mendoza expressed confidence in Lindor’s resilience, stating,
“Knowing Lindor, I’m not gonna bet against him. This is a guy that’s played through broken toes and the low back (injury) two years ago when he barely walked and he continued to play through it. So we’re still optimistic that he’s going to be available for us on opening day, but we’ve just got to wait and see.”
Lindor, 32, contributed a .267 batting average with 31 home runs, 86 RBIs, and 31 stolen bases across 160 games last season. He was left off Puerto Rico’s roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic due to insurance concerns.
Increasing Incidence of Hamate Injuries Among MLB Players During Spring Training
Lindor is the third prominent MLB player to suffer a hamate bone injury during the first week of spring training. The Arizona Diamondbacks’ outfielder Corbin Carroll and Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday also sustained similar injuries in recent days.
Mendoza commented on the unusual cluster of injuries:
“It’s baseball, you know. I guess it’s back to baseball season. … This is a pretty common one. It’s just rare that, you know, in the span of, what 24 hours, we got three really good players going down with the same injury. But I don’t make too much out of it.”
Corbin Carroll Likely to Miss Significant Time After Surgery
Corbin Carroll of the Arizona Diamondbacks is expected to miss a substantial portion of spring training following surgery to address a broken hamate bone in his right hand. The injury occurred during batting practice, as reported by a person familiar with the situation who spoke anonymously due to the absence of an official team announcement.
Carroll’s surgery is scheduled for Wednesday, and his availability for opening day remains uncertain. He had been anticipated to participate for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. The 25-year-old outfielder earned the National League Rookie of the Year award in 2023 after posting a .259 batting average with 31 home runs and 32 stolen bases, while leading the majors with 17 triples.
Jackson Holliday Undergoes Surgery, Will Miss Season Start
Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday is scheduled for surgery on Thursday to repair a broken hamate bone in his right hand, with team officials confirming he will be sidelined for the season opener. Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias announced that Holliday sustained the injury during batting practice the previous week in Sarasota, Florida.
Holliday, 22, finished the 2025 season with a .242 average, 17 home runs, 55 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 draft, his absence will be a significant loss for Baltimore as they begin their campaign.
Jordan Montgomery Returns to Texas While Recovering from Elbow Rehab
Separately, pitcher Jordan Montgomery has agreed to a one-year contract to rejoin the Texas Rangers, marking a return to the team where he was part of their sole World Series championship three seasons ago. Montgomery continues to recover from a second elbow reconstruction surgery amid this deal.
Montgomery has appeared sporadically for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Milwaukee Brewers during the past two seasons while managing arm injuries. Over eight major league seasons, he holds a 46-41 win-loss record with a 4.03 earned run average.
Implications of the Hamate Injury Spike on MLB Season Prospects
The sudden increase in hamate bone injuries among notable MLB players like Francisco Lindor, Corbin Carroll, and Jackson Holliday presents challenges for their respective teams as the season begins. Such injuries, often resulting from the strain of batting, can sideline players for weeks, causing disruptions in lineup plans and team chemistry early in the season.
Given Lindor’s history of playing through injuries and the typical recovery period for a hamate fracture, the Mets are cautiously optimistic about his return. However, the timing of these surgeries so close to opening day adds uncertainty about how quickly each player can regain full form. Teams will need to adjust accordingly as they continue spring training and finalize rosters.
