The Mets are closing in on getting Jorge Polanco back from his latest injury stint, with the veteran potentially returning as soon as Friday in San Diego.
Beat writer Anthony DiComo reports that Polanco will mostly DH once he’s activated from the IL, where he’s been since April 18 with left Achilles bursitis.
It’s been a rough stretch for the 31-year-old who was supposed to anchor third base after signing with New York this winter. Between 2022 and 2024, he’s now made seven trips to the injured list for various back, knee, hamstring, and wrist issues.
“After six stints on the injured list between the 2022 and 2024 seasons for back, knee and hamstring injuries, the team placed him on the IL a seventh time April 18 with a bruised right wrist and Achilles bursitis after playing 14 games — and just two at first base,” ESPN’s Jorge Castillo wrote.
The cautious approach makes sense given Polanco’s injury history and the team’s current situation. New York brought in players like Freddy Peralta and Bo Bichette during what started as a sluggish offseason, but the results haven’t matched expectations.
That much was clear when Carlos Mendoza didn’t mince words with reporters recently.
“There’s so much I could sit here and say that we worry – we’ve got to go out and do it ourselves,” the Mets manager said. “We’re not putting ourselves in good positions. It’s not early anymore. Whatever I say here doesn’t matter, we’ve got to go out there and do it.”
Getting Polanco’s bat back in the lineup could provide a spark, but the team clearly wants to be smart about his return. Starting him at DH allows them to ease him back while still getting his offensive production.
The plan is still to move him back to first base once he’s fully healthy, which would give the Mets more flexibility with their lineup construction. But for now, they’re focused on keeping him on the field.
With the team’s season hanging in the balance and Mendoza’s comments highlighting the urgency, Polanco’s return couldn’t come at a better time. The question is whether his bat can help turn things around after such an extended absence.
