Granderson has surgery on torn thumb ligament
Mets right fielder sustained injury in NLCS, went on to hit 3 HRs in World Series
NEW YORK -- In retrospect, Curtis Granderson's World Series performance was that much more impressive. Granderson underwent surgery this week at the Hospital for Special Surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb, less than a week after swatting three home runs in World Series play.
Granderson, 34, injured his thumb sliding into a base in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. He wore a wrap on it for Game 4, vowing that it would not affect him for the World Series.
It didn't -- at least not outwardly. In five Series games, Granderson hit three homers, drove home five runs and walked four times. He led the Mets with a 1.060 OPS.
Granderson improved across the board in the second season of his four-year, $60 million contract. Reunited with former Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long, Granderson hit .259/.364/.457 in 157 games, adding 26 homers and 33 doubles. He also posted vastly improved defensive numbers, earning an NL Gold Glove Award nomination.
Granderson is penciled in to return as the Mets' starting right fielder next season.