Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets underwent surgery on Feb. 11 and faces a six‑week recovery. Whether he will be ready for the March 26 season opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates remains uncertain.
While Lindor is out for spring training and there’s a possibility he might miss the start of the 2026 MLB season, the question of Bo Bichette potentially playing shortstop is emerging.
Bichette is getting used to a new position at third base, so getting all the reps in during spring training will be vital for him to feel comfortable once the season starts. Nonetheless, former Met Ron Darling disagrees and believes Bichette should get the reps at shortstop with Lindor out.
“It doesn’t stunt great athletes’ growth, I wouldn’t think,” Darling said during a Feb. 12 appearance on MLB Network about Bichette not having as many reps at third base during spring training.
“I think he can make the transition easily. He would take the ground balls at shortstop. He can play some shortstop and do some work at third base. I mean, the big difference between going from shortstop to third base is that when you play shortstop in the major leagues, you have great hands and you’re a great fielder.”
Mets’ Bo Bichette Should Have No Issues Playing Third Base
Moreover, Darling noted that there’s one major difference between shortstop and third base.
“The whole difference between third base and shortstop is that when you’re a shortstop, you see the delivery of the pitch, you see where it’s going, and you react as you see the ball come off the bat,” Darling.
“The difference as a third baseman is you don’t see that. You’re really tracking the pitcher as he releases the ball. You’re looking in front of the plate, you’re looking where the hitter is going to make contact, and trying to read off that. That’s the biggest difference.”
The former Mets pitcher also noted that Bichette returned from an injury to play second base in the World Series for the Toronto Blue Jays, so any lack of reps shouldn’t be a concern.
“Think about how good Bichette is as an athlete and how well he knows how to play the game,” Darling added. “He had never played second base at all, except for him out there in the World Series, and he was great. So he can make any adjustment you need.”
Francisco Lindor Injury Update
Nonetheless, Bichette’s potential return to shortstop might be unnecessary, as the Mets fully expect Lindor to be ready for Opening Day. MLB Network insider Joel Sherman provided an update on the situation, noting that a major reason leads him to believe that the veteran infielder will be back for the Mets’ first game of the 2026 MLB season.
“I don’t know that there are many tougher guys than him in the major leagues,” Sherman said during an MLB Network appearance on Feb. 11. “I mean, he’s played with a fractured finger, a broken toe, and a pinky toe.
“He had a back so bad a couple of years ago that he could hardly stand and he kept playing and had one of the biggest hits of the season to get the Mets in the playoffs that year. He’s tough, and the Mets firmly believe he’ll hit the six-week mark… They believe he’s going to be back in that period, in part because of his toughness that’ll get on the field.”
Ron Darling Gives Mets Blunt Take Amid Francisco Lindor Injury