The New York Mets are set to enter the 2026 season with lofty expectations. After a demoralizing collapse to end the previous campaign, the club has revamped much of the roster. Big changes were needed, and New York spent nearly $250 million in the offseason to transform the team. A blockbuster trade involving Freddy Peralta also significantly boosted the rotation.
With the new players in place, the Mets are widely predicted to win the competitive National League East division. Despite the hype, there are concerns over Francisco Lindor’s health. The five-time All-Star underwent hand surgery in mid-February to repair a broken hamate bone. He has since recovered quickly enough to feature in multiple spring training games this month.
Nevertheless, Lindor has admitted that he is not yet 100% heading into the new season. “Opening Day is still the plan,” Lindor recently told Bleacher Report. “The hand is good, or it’s good enough. I won’t be 100 percent, I promise you that. Nobody is 100 percent when they depend on their body day in and day out. But I’m looking forward to hopefully being out there and ready to play.”
Although Lindor did play some games during spring training, he only had 19 preseason at-bats. He also only picked up three hits, all singles, during these plate appearances (.158 batting average). In the field, Lindor has looked confident in limited spring opportunities. The shortstop was successful in all 10 fielding chances, seven assists and three putouts, during five appearances.
Francisco Lindor Will Likely Be Critical to the New York Mets Success in 2026
GettyFrancisco Lindor will be looking to have another 30-30 season in 2026.
Mets fans and management will be hoping that Lindor does not suffer any further issues from the injury. Despite the team’s down 2025 season, the durable infielder posted impressive numbers on the campaign. According to Fangraphs, his 6.3 WAR was only topped by three shortstops in the entire league. The star also led the entire National League in plate appearances and at-bats during 2025.
Lindor’s importance to the Mets was recently highlighted by ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The reporter claimed that New York’s success in 2026 essentially hinges on the shortstop. Outside of his hand, Passan wants to see how Lindor can set the tone for the newly revamped Mets. At the top of the order, the star will be crucial to the success of his teammates, particularly Juan Soto and Bo Bichette.
Lindor’s Health Also Worries New York Fans
Mets fans also seem a bit worried about Lindor’s health. During a recent poll conducted by The Athletic, New York supporters were asked various questions regarding the club. Among the tasks was to select a Mets player who would have a lower WAR in 2026 compared to the prior season. A majority of the fans (41%) opted to pick Lindor. No other player received more than 14.8% of the votes.
The star is well aware of just how important his health is to leading the Mets back to the playoffs. In fact, he specifically said staying healthy was his goal for the upcoming season in the aforementioned interview with Bleacher Report. New York, with Lindor expected in the lineup, will begin the campaign on March 26 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Mets Star Makes Injury Admission Ahead of Opening Day