Lindor (calf) seeing 'signs of healing,' but still not close to return
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NEW YORK -- Don’t expect Francisco Lindor back in the Mets’ lineup anytime soon.
Although an MRI taken Wednesday on Lindor’s left calf revealed “signs of healing,” according to manager Carlos Mendoza, Lindor still must strengthen his leg in the weight room before beginning a running progression. Only after that can Lindor restart baseball activities, meaning he is still an unknown -- but significant -- number of weeks from a big league return.
“We’ve just got to let it heal,” Mendoza said.
Asked directly if the Mets have any sort of updated timetable on Lindor, Mendoza replied with one word: “No.” Asked if Lindor is still quite a ways away then, Mendoza responded: “Yes.”
Lindor, 32, has not played since straining his calf in an April 22 game against the Twins at Citi Field. The Mets never publicly revealed a timetable for the shortstop’s return, outside of indicating it would be a significant absence. Most calf strains heal within six weeks, though severe ones can linger longer. Given that Lindor has already missed three weeks and is not imminently scheduled to begin a running program, he figures to miss closer to two months or more.
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Before this season, Lindor had been one of the league’s most durable players, averaging 158.3 games per season from 2022-25 while playing through minor injuries on several occasions. He hadn’t been on the injured list since 2021. But physical ailments have become more frequent in recent years for Lindor, who dealt with a back injury down the stretch in 2024 and a broken toe in ’25 before undergoing multiple surgeries this offseason -- one an right elbow debridement procedure, the other a left hamate repair.
Prior to his hamstring strain, Lindor was batting .226/.314/.355 with two home runs and two stolen bases in 24 games. His direct replacement, Ronny Mauricio, is also on the IL nursing a fractured left thumb that should keep him out until mid-June. For as long as both of them remain sidelined, Bo Bichette will continue playing shortstop most days for the Mets, with Brett Baty sliding over to Bichette’s usual spot at third base.