NEW YORK -- Jorge Polanco, the Mets’ $40 million offseason signing who has battled Achilles issues since Spring Training and been on the injured list since April, made his long-awaited return Tuesday to open New York's three-game series against the Royals at Citi Field.
Polanco slotted sixth in the lineup and started at DH, which is where he will play regularly over the coming weeks. New York optioned Ronny Mauricio to Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding roster move.
Though the Mets signed Polanco to be their Pete Alonso replacement at first base, Polanco did not take any reps there while on rehab assignment. What he did do was hit, clubbing two home runs over his final three games with Triple-A Syracuse. He nearly added one in his first game back with the Mets, hitting a ball inches away from the right-field foul pole. Polanco later added a walk and an RBI double in a 16-12 loss.
“I thought he really lengthened our lineup,” interim manager Andy Green said. “Two things are true. When you have that type of performance on the mound, it’s a really frustrating day. On the flip side, you could feel the length of the lineup with his bat in there.”
That power stroke is the most significant reason why the Mets chose to sign Polanco off a season that saw him hit 26 homers with an .821 OPS for the Mariners. It’s also why New York chose to activate Polanco on Tuesday, despite the fact that he’s not prepared to play defense.
“I think we’re most excited about the bat right now,” Green said. “If he ends up getting into first base as time goes on, that will be great, as well. His bat is where a lot of the value is for us at this moment.”
For months, Polanco attempted to manage the discomfort in his left Achilles, which came and went as he dealt with bursitis. Early in his rehab, a right wrist injury also slowed Polanco, combining with the Achilles issue to force him off a Minor League assignment in June. Mets officials went as far as to debate the merits of surgery for Polanco, who would have missed the rest of the season had he consented to an operation.
But this was always, at its core, a pain management issue for Polanco, who continues to have good days and bad days. Recently, Polanco’s number of good days increased, allowing him to restart a rehab assignment and make it back to the Majors.
“I’m feeling good, feeling grateful,” Polanco said through an interpreter. “Excited to be back.”
Though Polanco will not start every day at DH, he will still “eat into playing time” for others on the roster -- most notably catchers Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens, who had made use of the DH spot so both could be in the lineup. Juan Soto has also enjoyed the benefit of regular DH days, so the Mets could lean more heavily on him in left field. And they could ask Francisco Lindor, who had taken multiple DH days to ease his way back into duty following a calf strain, to play shortstop most nights.
There will also be plenty of games when Polanco does not start. He will likely need to manage his Achilles issue all season.
“The nice thing is, on the days he doesn’t start, he’ll be available to hit off the bench for us,” Green said. “To have a switch-hitting bat like that, that you can pop at various spots, is still really valuable. We haven’t had that type of guy on the bench. So even when he doesn’t start, he’s going to add real value to our club.”
A 13-year veteran of the Twins, Mariners and Mets, Polanco has 155 career homers with a .769 OPS. He is a stronger hitter from the left side of the plate.
It’s possible that later this season, Polanco could see time at first base. To that end, he’ll continue to take pregame ground balls at the position, though his ability to make it back to the infield dirt will depend both on his health and the team’s need. Jared Young and Mark Vientos have been platooning most days at first, but Young has struggled offensively while Vientos has been, statistically, one of the worst defenders in the Majors.
As for Polanco, who remains under contract through 2027, Green said: “He is at DH. I think we’re all excited to have him there. He had some nice games in rehab and homered in his last game, and so we think he’s ready to DH for us and ready to get going.”