\n
As the calendar turns to March, the excitement surrounding the New York Mets<\/em>‘ preparations for the 2026 season is tempered by uncertainty regarding Francisco Lindor<\/strong>\u2019s availability for Opening Day.<\/p>\nDespite being sidelined for the entirety of spring training so far and not participating in live games, Lindor remains optimistic about his recovery and is eyeing Opening Day<\/em> as the potential date for his return to the lineup.<\/p>\nIn an exclusive interview with Dan Martin<\/em> of the New York Post<\/em>, Lindor expressed his confidence in his recovery process, although he acknowledged the ongoing challenge of healing from his recent surgery. His words conveyed both determination and a sense of patience, as he works toward regaining full strength.<\/p>\nAt the start of spring training, Mets<\/em> president of baseball operations David Stearns<\/strong> announced that Lindor would need surgery to repair a fracture in his right hamate bone. The surgery was expected to keep him out of all baseball activities, including both hitting and fielding, for a period of at least six to eight weeks.<\/p>\nManager Carlos Mendoza<\/strong> also provided an update before Sunday\u2019s exhibition game against the Houston Astros<\/em>, stating that Lindor has been working diligently with one-handed swings. Mendoza added that, should Lindor\u2019s hand continue to strengthen, he hopes that the shortstop will soon be able to begin progressing in both hitting and fielding drills.<\/p>\nDespite the restrictions on Lindor\u2019s activity, he remains positive about his progress. \u201cI feel like I\u2019m in a good spot,\u201d Lindor told Martin. \u201cEvery day, I\u2019m just trying to get stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Lindor reaffirmed that Opening Day<\/em> remains his target for returning to action, he was careful not to make definitive statements, knowing that his recovery is still in progress. \u201cIt\u2019s too early to determine if I\u2019ll be ready,\u201d he admitted, leaving room for adjustments depending on how his hand responds to rehabilitation.<\/p>\nLindor\u2019s injury is a notable one, as he has been a durable presence for the Mets since joining the team in January 2021. Over his first five seasons in Flushing<\/em>, Lindor has only missed 52 games, and he has played through injuries without any major setbacks. In fact, he missed only two games last season, further solidifying his reputation as a reliable player.<\/p>\nThe 31-year-old shortstop is coming off an outstanding 2025 campaign, in which he slashed .267\/.346\/.466<\/strong>, hit 31 home runs<\/strong>, drove in 86 RBIs<\/strong>, posted a solid .812 OPS<\/strong>, and stole 31 bases<\/strong>. These numbers place him among the elite shortstops in the league and make his potential absence from Opening Day even more concerning for the Mets.<\/p>\nIf Lindor is unable to return in time, the Mets will need to consider their options at shortstop. However, with Grae Kessinger<\/strong> now expected to be sidelined for at least 8 to 12 weeks due to a significant left knee injury, the team\u2019s depth at the position has already been reduced. Kessinger\u2019s injury, which may require surgery, creates a further complication for the Mets as they look to fill the gap.<\/p>\nDespite Kessinger\u2019s injury, Mendoza expressed confidence in the other infield options available to the team. Vidal Bruj\u00e1n<\/strong> and Ronny Mauricio<\/strong>, both of whom have seen time in the majors, are candidates to make the Opening Day roster and could be called upon if Lindor is not ready.<\/p>\nLindor himself did not seem overly concerned about the situation at shortstop, stating, \u201cWe are going to be fine,\u201d expressing confidence in the team\u2019s ability to adapt and find solutions if needed.<\/p>\n
![\"Mets](\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Francisco-Lindor-1-e1772038282905.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&w=780\")
<\/p>\n
While Lindor\u2019s recovery and the potential loss of Kessinger are certainly challenging for the Mets, it\u2019s clear that the organization has several capable players ready to step up. Bruj\u00e1n and Mauricio have shown promise in their limited opportunities, and both players are capable of contributing in different roles.<\/p>\n
Even if Lindor is unable to make his Opening Day<\/em> target, the Mets are far from short on options. The team has a strong roster across the board, with a dynamic offense and a pitching staff that can contend with any team in the league. While Lindor\u2019s presence would certainly strengthen the lineup, the Mets\u2019 depth means they can weather the storm and keep their championship aspirations alive.<\/p>\nThe team\u2019s outlook also depends on Lindor\u2019s recovery trajectory over the next few weeks. If he continues to make steady progress, there is still hope that he will be able to join the team for the start of the season. With his leadership, skillset, and impact on both sides of the ball, Lindor\u2019s return would be a huge boost for the Mets as they prepare for a highly competitive 2026 campaign.<\/p>\n
The next few weeks will be critical for Lindor, as he works to regain full strength and determine if he will be ready for Opening Day. His recovery is a major storyline for the Mets heading into the season, and his presence on the field will be vital to the team\u2019s chances of making a deep playoff run.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, the Mets will continue to work with their remaining options, hoping that Lindor can return sooner rather than later. With a strong roster and the depth to fill in for key injuries, the Mets remain a formidable contender in the National League. If Lindor can return in time, he will add another dimension to a team already loaded with talent, giving them the chance to make a push for the title in 2026.<\/p>\n
As the spring progresses, the Mets will be monitoring Lindor\u2019s recovery closely. All eyes will be on his hand, and his potential return will be one of the most anticipated events of the upcoming season. The Mets and their fans are hopeful that Lindor\u2019s optimism will translate into a swift recovery, and they will be rooting for his successful return as they aim for another strong season.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As the calendar turns to March, the excitement surrounding the New York Mets‘ preparations for the 2026 season is tempered by uncertainty regarding Francisco Lindor\u2019s availability for… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":158791,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-158787","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n
\ud83d\udd25 REPORT | LINDOR INJURY UPDATE \u2013 Francisco Lindor has provided a crucial update on his injury, revealing progress in his recovery and expressing confidence in a return to action soon. The New York Mets shortstop has been sidelined, but he assures fans that he\u2019s working hard to get back to his elite form. With the season ahead, Lindor\u2019s return could be the spark the Mets need to boost their playoff hopes..ll \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47 - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=158787\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\ud83d\udd25 REPORT | LINDOR INJURY UPDATE \u2013 Francisco Lindor has provided a crucial update on his injury, revealing progress in his recovery and expressing confidence in a return to action soon. The New York Mets shortstop has been sidelined, but he assures fans that he\u2019s working hard to get back to his elite form. With the season ahead, Lindor\u2019s return could be the spark the Mets need to boost their playoff hopes..ll \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47 - NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As the calendar turns to March, the excitement surrounding the New York Mets‘ preparations for the 2026 season is tempered by uncertainty regarding Francisco Lindor\u2019s availability for...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=158787\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-03-02T09:31:35+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/LUU-17.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"MrLuu\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"MrLuu\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=158787\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=158787\",\"name\":\"\ud83d\udd25 REPORT | LINDOR INJURY UPDATE \u2013 Francisco Lindor has provided a crucial update on his injury, revealing progress in his recovery and expressing confidence in a return to action soon. The New York Mets shortstop has been sidelined, but he assures fans that he\u2019s working hard to get back to his elite form. With the season ahead, Lindor\u2019s return could be the spark the Mets need to boost their playoff hopes..ll \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47 - NEWS USA\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=158787#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=158787#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/LUU-17.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-02T09:31:35+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-02T09:31:35+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/301df8231b74387730cd1ed513c32f69\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=158787#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=158787\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=158787#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/LUU-17.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/LUU-17.jpg\",\"width\":1080,\"height\":1080},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=158787#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"\ud83d\udd25 REPORT | LINDOR INJURY UPDATE \u2013 Francisco Lindor has provided a crucial update on his injury, revealing progress in his recovery and expressing confidence in a return to action soon. The New York Mets shortstop has been sidelined, but he assures fans that he\u2019s working hard to get back to his elite form. With the season ahead, Lindor\u2019s return could be the spark the Mets need to boost their playoff hopes..ll \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/\",\"name\":\"NEWS USA\",\"description\":\"Your Daily Dose of Sports News and Updates\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/301df8231b74387730cd1ed513c32f69\",\"name\":\"MrLuu\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dc1fd3814c4cb3d1816165db2274a22bac8ad2b5452a36bf175d03eafdd0ecc5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dc1fd3814c4cb3d1816165db2274a22bac8ad2b5452a36bf175d03eafdd0ecc5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"MrLuu\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?author=8\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"\ud83d\udd25 REPORT | LINDOR INJURY UPDATE \u2013 Francisco Lindor has provided a crucial update on his injury, revealing progress in his recovery and expressing confidence in a return to action soon. The New York Mets shortstop has been sidelined, but he assures fans that he\u2019s working hard to get back to his elite form. With the season ahead, Lindor\u2019s return could be the spark the Mets need to boost their playoff hopes..ll \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47 - NEWS USA","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=158787","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"\ud83d\udd25 REPORT | LINDOR INJURY UPDATE \u2013 Francisco Lindor has provided a crucial update on his injury, revealing progress in his recovery and expressing confidence in a return to action soon. The New York Mets shortstop has been sidelined, but he assures fans that he\u2019s working hard to get back to his elite form. With the season ahead, Lindor\u2019s return could be the spark the Mets need to boost their playoff hopes..ll \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47 - NEWS USA","og_description":"As the calendar turns to March, the excitement surrounding the New York Mets‘ preparations for the 2026 season is tempered by uncertainty regarding Francisco Lindor\u2019s availability for...","og_url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=158787","og_site_name":"NEWS USA","article_published_time":"2026-03-02T09:31:35+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1080,"height":1080,"url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/LUU-17.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"MrLuu","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"MrLuu","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=158787","url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=158787","name":"\ud83d\udd25 REPORT | LINDOR INJURY UPDATE \u2013 Francisco Lindor has provided a crucial update on his injury, revealing progress in his recovery and expressing confidence in a return to action soon. The New York Mets shortstop has been sidelined, but he assures fans that he\u2019s working hard to get back to his elite form. With the season ahead, Lindor\u2019s return could be the spark the Mets need to boost their playoff hopes..ll \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47 - NEWS USA","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=158787#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=158787#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/LUU-17.jpg","datePublished":"2026-03-02T09:31:35+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-02T09:31:35+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/301df8231b74387730cd1ed513c32f69"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=158787#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=158787"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=158787#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/LUU-17.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/LUU-17.jpg","width":1080,"height":1080},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=158787#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"\ud83d\udd25 REPORT | LINDOR INJURY UPDATE \u2013 Francisco Lindor has provided a crucial update on his injury, revealing progress in his recovery and expressing confidence in a return to action soon. The New York Mets shortstop has been sidelined, but he assures fans that he\u2019s working hard to get back to his elite form. With the season ahead, Lindor\u2019s return could be the spark the Mets need to boost their playoff hopes..ll \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/","name":"NEWS USA","description":"Your Daily Dose of Sports News and Updates","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/301df8231b74387730cd1ed513c32f69","name":"MrLuu","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dc1fd3814c4cb3d1816165db2274a22bac8ad2b5452a36bf175d03eafdd0ecc5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dc1fd3814c4cb3d1816165db2274a22bac8ad2b5452a36bf175d03eafdd0ecc5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"MrLuu"},"url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?author=8"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158787","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=158787"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158787\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":158792,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158787\/revisions\/158792"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/158791"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=158787"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=158787"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=158787"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"Mets'](\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_3763,h_2116\/c_fill,w_1440,ar_1440:810,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/ImagnImages\/mmsport\/inside_the_mets\/01kjnyzehm9qvmhm1f6x.jpg\")
<\/p>\n