By Alfredo Echenique Lugo
Sep 21, 2024, 11:44 AM EDT
It’s been almost a week since Francisco Lindor had to leave the game against the Washington Nationals due to back discomfort. That’s why the Puerto Rican has missed six games with the Mets in this final part of the season.
However, it appears the talented shortstop is very close to returning to the team’s lineup after undergoing some injections and doing throwing and velocity drills.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza gave an update on Lindor’s case and is optimistic about the shortstop’s return. He hopes it will be very soon, even by the start of the upcoming series against the Braves.
“Today he felt much better to the point that he went out and moved around. He will run a little, play catch and, if he feels well, he will do baseball activities. So that is a good sign,” the coach of the metropolitan team explained in a press conference.
Mendoza also said that although they want to be patient with Lindor, the times of the season demand that the team’s offensive reference return as soon as possible to help the Mets get into the playoffs.
“I think if it was May we would maybe give him an extra day, a couple of days to run the bases. But the thing about him is he knows himself better than anybody. And when he can’t play, he’ll let us know. And if he feels like he’s good enough to help the team and not put himself in a position where he’s in danger of getting hurt more, he’s not going to go play,” the manager said.
“We trust him. And if he says, ‘I’m ready to play whenever,’ he’ll be in the lineup playing shortstop and leadoff hitter,” Mendoza concluded.
Given the progress of Lindor’s recovery, it is very possible that the Puerto Rican will be ready for the start of the series against the Atlanta Braves next Tuesday. This is the penultimate series of the season and a key one for the Mets’ aspirations to make the playoffs.
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