Francisco Lindor’s Recovery and Spring Training Outlook

PORT ST. LUCIE — Francisco Lindor is just weeks away from starting full training, but he’s not planning to miss out on the Mets’ spring training vibe.

Having had surgery last week on a fractured hamate bone in his left hand, the All-Star shortstop expressed hope to return by Opening Day. However, he’s eager to meet the new teammates before fully recovering.

This enthusiasm prompted him to show up at Clover Park on Sunday, a day ahead of the team’s first full training session.

“There are plenty of new faces I want to get acquainted with. Just being out there with everyone… not being able to join in on everything feels really frustrating,” Lindor shared.

Lindor anticipates needing about six weeks to recover post-surgery.

He remains optimistic about his Opening Day aspirations, saying, “I believe in the Mets medical team. They’ve handled similar situations well before.”

Interestingly, Lindor had been grappling with discomfort in his hands “for years” but decided on surgery after a training session on February 6 made him realize something wasn’t right.

Additionally, he faced setbacks when he was disqualified from the World Baseball Classic, where he was set to captain Puerto Rico, due to the insurance company’s refusal to cover him. This stemmed from previous offseason elbow surgery.

“I was really taken aback by the insurance decision. I felt ready… they just didn’t see me,” Lindor recalled, referring to the surgeries he underwent in the offseason and later.

He even mentioned that Bad Bunny, the popular Puerto Rican rapper, offered to help with insurance coverage, but the World Baseball Classic wouldn’t accept it.

“How much gratitude can we express?” Lindor mentioned. “He wanted our team to be its best, but it didn’t pan out.”

Reflecting on the Mets’ offseason changes, Lindor acknowledged that the review led by president of baseball operations David Stearns wasn’t unexpected given last season’s disappointing finish, particularly their failure to make the playoffs. New players include Freddy Peralta and Devin Williams, while Pete Alonso and others have departed.

“Last year didn’t conclude the way we all hoped. It’s part of the game, and not every year plays out the same,” Lindor stated. “Stearns is outstanding, and this new group has great potential. It was fascinating to witness their approach.”

“It felt like there was silence throughout the offseason, then suddenly it was buzzing, then quiet again,” he added. “They’ve done a fantastic job; I’m excited for the upcoming season.”