The Mets have gotten some clarity on Francisco Lindor’s left calf strain, and it’s not good news.
A day after the shortstop landed on the injured list, manager Carlos Mendoza provided a timetable of at least three weeks for his return, adding that Lindor would spend the next week in a walking boot.
Mendoza said he did not yet know the grade of Lindor’s calf strain, as he and team president David Stearns both expressed that the five-time All-Star would be reassessed in 21 days.
Lindor’s injury, suffered during Wednesday’s 3-2 win against the Twins, came as the Mets welcomed back Juan Soto from a 15-game absence (following a calf issue of his own).
“Injuries are part of this, and injuries to good players are part of this,” Stearns said on Friday before the Mets faced the Rockies. “We’re certainly not the only team in baseball that deals with this, and we just got to get through it.”
The Mets did that on Thursday, winning their series against the Twins on the back of a 12-game losing streak, but will now rely on a rather unproven prospect in Lindor’s place.
His injury resulted in a second call-up of the season for Ronny Mauricio, who will look to seize his latest chance after blasting six homers in 15 games for Triple-A Syracuse.
The infielder committed an error in his first start back but has the trust of Stearns to make the shortstop position his own in Lindor’s absence.
“He’s going to get opportunity there. He demonstrated to us both in spring training and Triple-A that he can play shortstop, and we’re going to be confident in him at shortstop,” Stearns said.
“I recognize last night was a rough showing, but we believe he can play shortstop and we’re going to give him a chance.”
The 25-year-old’s gaudy minor league numbers haven’t yet translated to the majors, and he went 0-4 at the plate despite the Mets’ 10-8 win.
Mendoza said he is confident Mauricio will figure it out.
“It’s always important when you finally get an opportunity, but [it] also can put too much pressure. The last thing you want is trying to do too much and trying to impress people,” the manager said.
“I think it’s just ‘go out there, play your game, be yourself.’ That’s all we’re asking him to do. And he’ll do just that. He’s a really good player that just needs to settle in here.”
