Francisco Lindor acknowledges that he will have to play through pain when he returns to the New York Mets lineup.
“If I play this year, I don’t think it’s going to be pain-free, and I’m OK with that. I just don’t want it to be in constant pain where I can’t bend over, then I’m putting my team in a position where I’m not helping them as much as I can,” he stated recently. “That’s not fair for anybody. For me, it’s about being in a position where if it’s going to hurt, it’s going to come and go.”
Lindor has missed seven consecutive games due to a sore back and has only played one inning in the last nine. The talented shortstop received a numbing injection on Thursday to alleviate discomfort in the facet joints along his spine.
In the Mets clubhouse, Lindor spoke while his daughters, Kalina and Amapola, played nearby. He exited his last game on September 15 against Philadelphia after just one inning.
“Last Sunday, I couldn’t really walk. I was rolling out of bed,” he shared. “Right now, I can touch my daughters and make sure they’re staying here with me.”
Lindor has been active on the field before games, participating in hitting, running, throwing, taking grounders, and hitting soft toss. However, he has not faced pitchers or run the bases yet.
Currently, Lindor boasts a batting average of .271, with 31 home runs, 86 RBIs, and 27 stolen bases. The four-time All-Star struggled earlier this season, batting just .193 with seven homers and 22 RBIs through May 20, but has since rebounded with a .307 average, 24 home runs, and 64 RBIs over his last 101 games.
“We all play with pain. I think players would be lying if they say, oh, I feel 100%,” he remarked. “There’s something that’s bothering them.”
