Reason to smile: All signs pointing to Wednesday activation for Lindor

NEW YORK -- Following a successful final rehab game with Triple-A Syracuse, Francisco Lindor could rejoin the Mets as soon as Wednesday for at least part of their doubleheader against the Cubs.

Lindor went 2-for-5 in a rehab game in Lehigh Valley, playing eight innings at shortstop. Mets officials planned to meet late Tuesday to discuss next steps for Lindor, who has been sidelined since April 22 with a strained left calf. While nothing is certain, manager Carlos Mendoza indicated that Lindor’s return could be imminent.

“I don’t want to get ahead of myself saying that he’s going to be active 100 percent tomorrow,” Mendoza said. “But it’s a possibility.”

Given that Lindor never appeared in Minor League rehab games on back-to-back days, it’s highly unlikely he would play in both halves of Wednesday’s doubleheader, and the Mets could wait until between games to activate him.

In any event, the team will be glad to welcome back its starting shortstop and one of its most important players. A five-time All-Star who finished second to Shohei Ohtani in National League MVP voting in 2024, Lindor averaged 30 homers, 27 stolen bases and 6.0 wins above replacement from 2022-25. Though he was scuffling prior to his IL stint, with two home runs, two steals and a .669 OPS in 24 games, he has been one of the league’s top players for more than a decade.

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As such, he represents the Mets’ best chance to turn things around in what has been a trying season.

“We’ve got to start playing better baseball, win more games consistently. Francisco is a big part of that,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said. “We think he can help us. … We’ve got a sense of urgency throughout our team right now. We also can’t put everything on Francisco to come back at a time when he hasn’t played baseball very much, and expect us to put him on his back.”

Once active, Lindor will return to his regular job as starting shortstop, with Bo Bichette sliding back to third base and Brett Baty moving into a super-utility role. Lindor went 3-for-13 (.231) with a stolen base and just one strikeout on a three-game rehab assignment. He also received both at-bats and defensive reps in simulated games at Citi Field.

Outfielder Tyrone Taylor (right hip flexor strain) and infielder Ronny Mauricio (fractured left thumb) also appeared for Syracuse on Tuesday, though both will need additional time on assignment. Taylor finished 3-for-5 with a homer, while Mauricio was 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs.