New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor said he’s “100% optimistic” he’ll be ready for Opening Day after returning to action Tuesday for the first time since undergoing surgery on his left hamate.
Lindor had the procedure on the hamate, which is on the lower outside edge of the hand, on Feb. 11 and was expected to miss at least six weeks. The Mets open the season at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 26.
He played four innings of a minor league game Tuesday at the Mets’ spring training complex in Port St. Lucie, Florida. He played only in the field and did not take any at-bats, though he has been taking swings in an indoor batting cage since the procedure.
“It felt really good,” Lindor told reporters, according to MLB.com. “I’m tired. It’s part of the process. It was a good day today.
“… At the end of the day, I can catch the ball. So I’m in a good spot. I can’t complain.”
Lindor, 32, has not landed on the injured list since 2021 despite dealing with various ailments in recent years. In 2024, he missed several games over the final two weeks of the season with a back injury. Last season, he played through a broken right pinky toe and led the majors with 732 plate appearances, slashing .267/.346/.466 with 31 home runs and 31 steals.
“Our training staff is really good. They’ve been doing everything possible,” Lindor told reporters. “… You have all of them working as hard as they can, and they’re getting me right day in and day out. I trust the process.”
Even if Lindor returns Opening Day, he could take longer to regain his form at the plate. Hitters who have undergone the surgery often said their typical power took months, not weeks, to resurface.
Last March, Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez fractured his left hamate bone after taking a swing during a live at-bat in spring training. He didn’t make his season debut until April 25, nearly seven weeks after suffering the injury, and hit one home run in his first 109 plate appearances. Alvarez, however, had torn a ligament in his left thumb a year earlier.
“It’ll be tough to be in a position where I can say I’m going to play 100%,” said Lindor, who has played in at least 160 games in three of the past four seasons. “When we depend on our bodies, there’s been very few guys that can tell you they’re 100%. I’m sure there will be some pains here and there, and I’m sure my hand is going to still hurt at times.
“Everybody I’ve talked to about the hamate bone, they say it still bothers them at times. But ultimately, it comes down to being able to play the game at an elite level. That’s what I’m trying to do. Whatever it takes to help my team win.”
ESPN’s Jorge Castillo contributed to this report.
