Franciso Lindor was recovered on Friday after reportedly receiving a cortisone injection for lingering back pain.
before Friday's game between the Mets and Phillies. Heidi Watney reports The Apple TV+ pregame show reported that the star shortstop was in pain on Thursday and received a cortisone injection.
She added that Lindor was feeling “much better” after recovering from a back injury Friday and returning to the field.
Neither manager Carlos Mendoza nor president of baseball operations David Stearns mentioned the pitch when discussing Lindor's injury recovery on Friday.
Still, the four-time All-Star has progressed to baseball activities, playing catch and taking batting practice, and has appeared to be in better shape.
“I feel great,” an excited Lindor said after the game as he trotted off the field.
Before batting practice, manager Carlos Mendoza suggested that whenever Lindor takes the next step in his baseball activities, he could be “100 percent” available to play shortstop and leadoff hitter the next day if he feels ready.
“This guy is Francisco Lindor. We're talking about an MVP candidate here,” Mendoza said. “When he says he's ready, it doesn't matter where we are. [winning or losing]He’s in the lineup.”
Mendoza acknowledged that the Mets might have been more willing to give a healthy Lindor another day of practice in May.
But they can't afford that. The Mets are battling the Diamondbacks for the final wild-card spot, two games behind the Braves.
Stearns also said he is optimistic that Lindor will play this season.
For the Mets, Friday marked the fifth game that Lindor has missed, as the four-time All-Star left the team early following Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Phillies because of back soreness.
He missed Saturday's game at Philadelphia before exiting before the bottom of the second inning.
Lindor had been feeling soreness in his back for about two weeks, but he first felt the pain a week ago when he clumsily stepped onto second base.
But even without Lindor, who had 10 hits in 37 at-bats and two home runs in his last 10 games, the Mets went 4-0 and delayed the Phillies' playoff push with a 10-6 victory on Thursday night.
“I think it's just an extension of what this team has done all year,” Stearns said Friday. “When somebody goes down, when somebody needs to step up, when we're in a little bit of a bind, somebody steps up.”
“And now we've seen it again, and it's not a surprise to me at this point.”
