Francisco Lindor’s 2024 spring training will be largely dedicated to recovering from hand surgery after a stress reaction was detected in the hamate bone of his left hand. The New York Mets shortstop had the procedure on Wednesday in Port St. Lucie, with an expected recovery time of roughly six weeks, casting doubt on whether he will be ready for Opening Day.
The surgery marks another physical setback for Lindor during the offseason. Earlier, he withdrew from serving as captain for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic after the insurer declined to cover his participation. Lindor also had a second elbow surgery within three years during this offseason, compounding concerns about his health going into the new season.
Mets’ Shortstop Depth and Management’s Optimism
With Lindor sidelined, the Mets are preparing their shortstop roster around players such as Ronny Mauricio, Vidal Bruján, Grae Kessinger, and Jackson Cluff heading into full squad workouts next week. Manager Carlos Mendoza acknowledged the challenges but emphasized confidence in Lindor’s resilience.
“I’m not going to bet against him,”
Mendoza said on the day pitchers and catchers officially reported.
“This is a guy who has played through broken toes and lower back [discomfort]. Two years ago he barely walked and he continued to play through it, so we’re optimistic he’s going to be available for us on Opening Day.”
Mendoza also addressed the Mets’ current shortstop options, noting,
“The guys that we have in camp are the ones who are going to get the reps early on,”
and added,
“And then as we continue to get information we’ll make some adjustments if we need to.”
Bo Bichette, who signed with the Mets this offseason and is transitioning from shortstop to third base, is expected to remain at his new position throughout spring training.
Challenges in Building Defensive Chemistry
Lindor’s absence during Grapefruit League games means he will miss valuable opportunities to develop in-game chemistry with new double-play partner Marcus Semien, who was acquired from the Texas Rangers in exchange for Brandon Nimmo. Despite this, the Mets remain committed to maintaining Lindor’s defensive involvement as much as possible during recovery.
“But the one thing Lindor will try to do is be out there for team defense as much as possible,”
Mendoza explained.
“He will have conversations with Marcus after games, so that way we can create that type of relationship there.”
Recent Discovery and Injury Context
Mendoza revealed that the team only recently learned Lindor would require surgery, although officials had been aware for some time that he was coping with discomfort in his hand during prior seasons. Last year, Lindor demonstrated remarkable durability by appearing in 160 games, hitting 31 home runs and stealing 31 bases with a .267/.346/.466 slash line.
“I think the only time he feels 100 percent is Day 1 of spring training since I have been here,”
Mendoza said.
“So he’s mentioned it the past couple of years, but it came and went. But we found out a couple of days ago and for him to say something like that was concerning to the point we took the step that we did.”
Commonality of Hamate Bone Surgeries Among Players
Francisco Lindor’s injury is not isolated. Both Jackson Holliday and Corbin Carroll are also expected to undergo hamate bone surgeries in the coming days. Mendoza noted the unusual coincidence.
“This is a pretty common [injury],”
he stated.
“It’s just rare that in the span of 24 hours we had three really good players going down with the same injury.”
The Mets have recent experience with this procedure through Francisco Alvarez, who had hamate bone surgery last March. Alvarez rejoined the Mets’ starting lineup by late April but initially struggled with power, managing only three home runs in two months before a demotion to Triple-A Syracuse. He showed improvement, finishing the season with seven home runs in the final two months.
“We’re optimistic that Lindor is going to be the same player [as always],”
Mendoza said.
“There’s been cases where power has been a topic, but there’s also been cases where guys have that type of surgery and it doesn’t affect them at all.”
Looking Ahead: Implications for Lindor and the Mets
Francisco Lindor’s hand surgery introduces significant uncertainty for the Mets’ early season plans, especially in the crucial role of shortstop. His six-week recovery means the team may start without their star infielder, relying on less experienced players to fill the gap while continuing to adapt their roster.
The Mets’ management remains hopeful Lindor will be ready to contribute defensively and offensively once cleared to play, emphasizing his history of perseverance through injuries. Meanwhile, the club continues to monitor his progress closely with adjustments expected as more information about his recovery emerges.
