PORT ST. LUCIE — The final piece of the Mets lineup is healthy enough to play.
Francisco Lindor was penciled into the team’s lineup for Sunday’s game against the Blue Jays at Clover Park, giving the All-Star shortstop his first Grapefruit League start of the season.
Lindor has spent the last month rehabbing from left hamate bone surgery and had just progressed to batting against live pitching in recent days.
“He went through his progression and we’re getting to a point now where it’s time for him to start playing with us,” manager Carlos Mendoza said.
Sunday’s plan was for Lindor to play four innings and receive two at-bats. He will likely have Monday off and then resume Grapefruit League action on Tuesday. The Mets have spring training games running through next weekend, ahead of the March 26 opener against the Pirates at Citi Field.
Mendoza said in the aftermath of the surgery there wasn’t a firm timetable for Lindor to begin playing games.
“But we saw he was progressing, not only defensively but offensively, with the way he was swinging the bat in the cages, transitioning to the field, getting live at-bats,” Mendoza said.
Lindor became the second starting position player to begin exhibition games this week: Luis Robert Jr. debuted in the Grapefruit League on Thursday after the Mets slow played his spring to ensure his legs were strengthened.
