New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed expected news on Wednesday when he announced that star shortstop Francisco Lindor would undergo surgery for a stress reaction to his left hamate bone.
For pieces shared by SNY’s Danny Abriano and NJ Advance Media’s Max Goodman on Thursday, orthopedic sports surgeon Dr. Deepak Chona and orthopedic hand surgeon Dr. Jacques Hacquebord addressed whether or not Lindor could realistically be good to go for the Mets’ season-opening series versus the Pittsburgh Pirates. That series is scheduled to get underway at Citi Field on March 26.
Will Francisco Lindor be ready for Opening Day?
Chona shared that Lindor’s six-week timeline for a recovery and return to the lineup is “likely very realistic.” However, Hacquebord told Goodman that a six-week recovery “is pushing it” for a professional athlete as it pertains to being at his best.
It is currently unclear who would start at shortstop, second base and third base if Lindor can’t play on the final Thursday of March. New Mets third baseman Bo Bichette and new second baseman Marcus Semien could shift to Lindor’s spot in the infield, which would create an opening for somebody else (Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio, Mark Vientos) to get some valuable playing time.
Lindor’s toughness is a big reason Mendoza and Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns think the 32-year-old won’t miss any regular-season games due to this setback. Hacquebord suggested that playing before he’s 100 percent could be “very uncomfortable” for Lindor.
Will Francisco Lindor be as good as new when he returns?
Interestingly, Chona mentioned that Lindor may experience a dip in offensive production and power for roughly “six weeks after returning” from his procedure.
“Most likely, this timing correlates with the recovery of grip strength and control of the bat,” Chona explained. “This dips after surgery (1) because of the generalized trauma/swelling to the muscles of the hand and (2) because the part of the bone (called the hook of the hamate) that they cut out to treat the fracture is involved in generating grip force as well.”
Of course, injuries to different people aren’t exactly alike. Additionally, it’s far too early to guess what Lindor will be for the Mets whenever he takes his first meaningful swings of the regular season.
That said, it sounds like Lindor may not be his All-Star self before April wraps up.
“Hacquebord added that it’ll likely take Lindor eight weeks, if not 10 or more, to return to 100 percent where he’s playing without any pain related to this injury,” Goodman wrote.