New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor underwent surgery on Wednesday to repair a fractured hamate bone in his left hand, raising questions about his availability for the start of the season. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza expressed cautious optimism that Lindor will be ready to play on opening day despite the injury.
Injury Cause and Recovery Timeline
Lindor sought evaluation from a hand specialist after feeling soreness in his hand and wrist earlier this week. According to Mendoza, the typical recovery period for this type of injury is around six weeks, which could potentially jeopardize Lindor’s opening day status. However, Mendoza highlighted Lindor’s resilience, pointing out his history of playing through significant injuries like broken toes and a severe back problem.
People are saying six weeks for return of play,
Mendoza mentioned, acknowledging the usual healing timetable.
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.
Carlos Mendoza, New York Mets Manager
Context of Hamate Injuries Among MLB Players
Lindor is the third high-profile MLB player to face a hamate injury this spring, joining Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll and Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday. The timing and clustering of these injuries has prompted questions about their cause.
Mendoza responded to these concerns by emphasizing that such injuries are common in baseball, despite the unusual occurrence of three players sustaining similar injuries in a short period. He downplayed the situation, affirming it as an expected part of the season beginning.
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.
Carlos Mendoza, New York Mets Manager
Lindor’s Recent Performance and Impact on Team
The 32-year-old Lindor had a solid 2023 campaign with the Mets, posting a .267 batting average along with 31 home runs, 86 RBIs, and 31 stolen bases across 160 games. Despite being a five-time All-Star, Lindor was not named to Puerto Rico’s roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic due to insurance concerns related to his injury risk. His health remains pivotal for the Mets’ performance this season.
🚨 LIVE 🚨
Carlos Mendoza speaks with the media in Port St. Lucie https://t.co/W6SNZxq31B
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) February 11, 2026
