LOS ANGELES -- Mets outfielder Juan Lagares underwent surgery Monday in New York to repair a fractured IP joint in his left thumb. The team did not release a timetable for his return.
Lagares injured the thumb attempting to make a diving catch in the fifth inning Thursday against the Nationals. The broken bone became the latest in a long string of injuries for Lagares, who has missed time over the past four seasons due to a sprained left thumb, a torn thumb ligament, a hyperextended right elbow and various soft tissue injuries. He has taken just 262 plate appearances since the start of 2016.
A regular starter against left-handed pitchers, Lagares was batting .379 with four extra-base hits in the nine games leading up to his injury. Overall, he was hitting .269 with five doubles, a triple and two home runs in 47 games.
Lagares' absence slightly unclogs a Mets outfield with four primary players battling for three starting spots. Manager Terry Collins said Monday that with Yoenis Cespedes healthy, Curtis Granderson will come off the bench most days going forward. Jay Bruce and Michael Conforto are the Mets' other regular starters, with Brandon Nimmo coming off the bench in place of Lagares.