Mets' Francisco Lindor News Emerges at Spring Training

However, Lindor and manager Carlos Mendoza have remained optimistic that he will be fully ready for Opening Day. On Friday, a new update emerged as Lindor took another meaningful step forward.  

His stitches were removed in late February, and by early March he had returned to fielding and playing shortstop. The one area he had not yet progressed to was hitting, the biggest hurdle in evaluating his recovery because swinging places the most stress on the hamate area and determines whether he can handle contact without discomfort. 

That changed Friday when Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reported that Lindor took on‑field batting practice for the first time since surgery, facing teammate A.J. Minter. Lindor even ripped a ground‑rule double to center field, a promising sign that his timeline is trending in the right direction. 

Lindor’s impact on the Mets remains undeniable. In 2025, he appeared in 160 games and posted a .267 batting average, .346 on‑base percentage, .811 OPS, 31 home runs, 86 RBIs and 31 stolen bases.  

He continues to be one of the league’s premier two‑way players as a five‑time All‑Star, four‑time Silver Slugger, two‑time Gold Glover and one‑time Platinum Glove winner.  

Lindor still has six years remaining on his 10‑year, $341 million contract extension, which runs through 2031, and his goal remains unchanged, bringing a World Series title back to Queens. 

With no true backup shortstop capable of replacing his production, the Mets can only hope his recovery continues without interruption, because their season depends heavily on having Lindor on the field.