Francisco Lindor just checked off an important box in his recovery.
Feb 17, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets infielder Francisco Lindor (12) speaks to bench coach Kai Correa (50) during spring training at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The Mets’ star shortstop had the stitches removed from his surgically repaired left hand this week, a significant milestone following hamate bone surgery. According to manager Carlos Mendoza, Lindor is now just two to three days away from beginning “impact activities.”
That phrase matters.
While Mendoza didn’t specify exactly what it entails, it likely signals a return to baseball actions involving contact — swings, possibly light batting practice, and other drills that test how the hand responds to force.
For a team hoping Lindor will be ready by Opening Day, this is tangible progress.
Mendoza emphasized that everything in Lindor’s recovery has gone smoothly so far. The brief pause before ramping up is simply to ensure the surgical scar settles properly after stitch removal. If there are no setbacks, the Mets’ optimistic timeline remains intact.
That’s the good news.
The more complicated conversation begins after he returns.
Hamate bone injuries carry a well-documented pattern: power often lags behind availability. Even when players return quickly, regaining full hand strength can take weeks — sometimes months. It’s not uncommon for hitters to need extended game reps before their extra-base production stabilizes.
For Lindor, that nuance matters.
The Mets already face a reconfigured lineup after Pete Alonso’s departure to Baltimore. That’s roughly 35-plus home runs and 100-plus RBIs gone from the middle of the order. Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil typically contribute steady power as well, but the overall margin has tightened.
New additions like Luis Robert Jr., Jorge Polanco, and Bo Bichette are expected to help replace the production collectively. Still, Lindor’s bat remains foundational. If his power is slow to return, the lineup may feel it early.
There’s also the practical reality of timing.
Even with impact work beginning soon, Lindor is behind his normal spring progression. He’ll need time before appearing in Grapefruit League games, and the Mets are unlikely to rush that process. Protecting him from a setback is far more important than accelerating March at-bats.
That means his first real test — live pitching in game conditions — could come later than usual.
For now, though, the trajectory is positive.
The stitches are out. The hand is healing. Impact swings are on the horizon.
Opening Day remains realistic.
But the true measure of Lindor’s recovery won’t just be whether he’s in the lineup. It will be how long it takes before his trademark power returns — and how the Mets navigate that window if it doesn’t arrive immediately.
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