Francisco Lindor made his spring training debut for the New York Mets on Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays, following hamate bone surgery on his left wrist. He played four innings in the field, went 1-for-3 at the plate, and helped secure an 8-1 rain-shortened win at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Lindor reported feeling mostly like himself despite some unusual sensations.
In Port St. Lucie, Florida, Francisco Lindor took the field for the first time in Grapefruit League play since undergoing surgery on February 11 to remove the hamate bone from his left wrist. The procedure followed hand and wrist soreness at the start of camp, with a six-week recovery timeline aligning closely with Opening Day on March 26 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. With 11 days remaining until the season opener, Lindor played four innings at shortstop and batted three times, finishing 1-for-3 including a 105 mph single to deep right field after fouling a ball projected 391 feet down the right-field line. He also dived left for a Jesús Sánchez single earlier in the game. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns had deemed a Grapefruit League appearance a prerequisite for Lindor's return, and manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed the team viewed him as fully ready, stating, “We just let him loose. No hesitation... he looked like Francisco Lindor.” Lindor acknowledged potential ongoing sensations, saying doctors expect them for eight weeks post-surgery while some peers noted they could last a year or longer. “There’s going to be moments, yeah, for sure,” Lindor said. “That’s something that the trainers have said since Day 1.” He described the day as good overall, having checked all boxes for readiness, and finished healthy. Prior to this, Lindor progressed from defensive drills and batting practice to three Minor League spring games. Last season, the 32-year-old hit 31 home runs and stole 31 bases. Looking ahead, he is scheduled for games on Tuesday and Thursday, building toward a full workload. Lindor noted rehab involves ups and downs, adding, “Today was a good day. Hopefully, I can come back tomorrow and feel even better.”