ANAHEIM -- Already facing the prospect of an extended absence for starting shortstop Francisco Lindor, the Mets on Saturday lost his backup, Ronny Mauricio, to a fractured left thumb. They will place him on the injured list before Sunday’s series finale against the Angels.
In the seventh inning of Saturday’s 4-3 loss at Angel Stadium, Mauricio hit a chopper to the right side, where Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel fielded it. Pitcher Reid Detmers was late to cover first base, however, turning the play into a foot race between Mauricio and Schanuel. Both players slid headfirst into the bag, with Mauricio breaking his thumb in the process.
"It’s tough, obviously,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “You lose your everyday shortstop and the guy that comes up that is getting the everyday opportunity here now is hurt. Somebody else is going to have an opportunity.”
With Lindor sidelined until at least late May and possibly June, Mauricio had been starting nearly every day at shortstop. Although he was batting just .219 at the time of his injury, Mauricio had contributed multiple key hits, including a go-ahead homer in the seventh inning of Friday’s 4-3 win over the Angels.
Saturday, the switch-hitting Mauricio drew a start against Detmers despite being a far stronger hitter from the left side of the plate.
Now, he will miss significant time. Broken thumbs tend to take around six weeks to heal.
In the absence of both Lindor and Mauricio, Bo Bichette is the most logical candidate to slide over to shortstop, his natural position. “I’m pretty sure Bo is going to be in the conversation,” Mendoza said.
If the Mets wish to add another shortstop to their roster, Triple-A infielders Christian Arroyo, Jackson Cluff and Vidal Bruján are all capable of playing the position. Or the Mets could recall recent waiver claim Eric Wagaman, whom they optioned to Syracuse earlier this weekend.
As for Bichette, who has played shortstop on occasion this season, the eight-year veteran said: “Whatever the team needs.”
Injuries have been wreaking havoc on the Mets’ roster in recent weeks, with Mauricio set to join Lindor, Jorge Polanco, Luis Robert Jr. and Kodai Senga -- among several others -- on the IL.