Lindor (calf) to start rehab assignment Friday, could be activated soon

PHILADELPHIA -- Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor is set to begin a Minor League rehab assignment on Friday, setting him up to return from the injured list as soon as early next week.

Lindor, who has not played since April 22 due to a strained left calf muscle, will play with Double-A Binghamton on Friday, then either with Binghamton or Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday depending on weather concerns. At that point, the team will reevaluate his progress and consider activation.

“We know he’s playing two for sure,” manager Carlos Mendoza said.

Outfielder Tyrone Taylor, who is rehabbing from a right hip flexor strain, will also begin a Minor League assignment on Friday.

The Mets expect Lindor to advance faster than Taylor, however, because he has spent the past week and a half playing in simulated games at Citi Field. Those have afforded him regular at-bats and ground balls in a controlled environment. If Lindor responds well to the uncontrolled environment that will present itself in Minor League games, it’s conceivable that two rehab appearances could be enough, despite the fact that he’s missed nearly two months.

Lindor will play five or six innings in his first game on Friday.

“This is a guy that knows himself better than anybody,” Mendoza said. “He’s going to let us know if he needs more at-bats, or physically how he’s feeling, and we’ll go from there.”

No matter how long Lindor takes to return, the Mets will be thrilled to welcome back one of their most important players. A five-time All-Star who finished second in National League MVP voting two years ago, Lindor remains one of the league’s top all-around players despite a .669 OPS in 24 games prior to his calf strain.

Lindor’s injury has been arguably the most significant for a Mets team that has played the bulk of this season without at least a third of its Opening Day lineup. Entering Thursday’s series opener at Citizens Bank Park, the Mets were 25-25 in games without Lindor.

“We know what he represents, the meaning for this team and what he brings to the table, his presence, the position he plays, just the type of player he is,” Mendoza said. “I think it’s just good for everyone in there to know that, 'OK, he’s getting closer,' because I’m pretty sure none of those guys had an idea how close he was. But now that we got the news, I’m pretty sure that those guys are going to feel it.”

Once Lindor returns, Bo Bichette will slide over from shortstop to third base, likely cutting into the playing time of Brett Baty. Baty, who has been playing most days at third, can crack the lineup at first, second or right field, though he’ll need to show more offensively to continue receiving regular at-bats. Baty could also conceivably steal some playing time from struggling veteran Marcus Semien at second.