New York Mets star shortstop Francisco Lindor made his spring training return on Sunday, going 1-for-3 and scoring a run in his first game since undergoing hand surgery on February 11.
“I feel like everything is heading in the right direction,” Lindor said following the rain-shortened 8-1 win over the Blue Jays. “It was a great experience, I felt like myself, and I finished the game healthy. Overall, it’s a positive day for me.”
The 32-year-old five-time All-Star had surgery on the hamate bone in his left hand after experiencing soreness, with an initial six-week rehab timeline that cast doubt on his availability for the March 26 season opener against the Pirates.
Manager Carlos Mendoza praised Lindor’s performance, saying, “We just let him loose. No hesitation. Watching him during pregame work and out on the back fields these past few days, he looked like Francisco Lindor.”
Last season, Lindor played 160 games, leading MLB with 762 plate appearances while hitting .267 with 31 home runs, 86 RBIs, and 31 stolen bases.
