The New York Mets‘ roster won’t be getting Jorge Polanco back any time soon. Manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters, including Laura Albanese of Newsday, that the $40 million infielder is not nearing a rehab assignment. Polanco is on the injured list with a right wrist contusion.
New York inked Polanco to a two-year deal this offseason. He was expected to fill the void left by longtime first baseman Pete Alonso, who defected to the Baltimore Orioles for a $150 million payday. Polanco made it just 14 games with his new club before getting injured. He slashed .179/.246/.286 in 61 plate appearances.
The Mets’ roster has dealt with injuries to several key players. Outfielder Juan Soto missed time with a calf issue. Francisco Lindor is currently dealing with his own calf injury. The lineup remains one of the least productive in the league.
New York Mets Roster Update: Jorge Polanco Not Close to Rehab Assignment
Polanco looked like an important cog in the lineup during MLB Spring Training. He posted a 146 wRC+ in 11 games. The 32-year-old slugged two home runs and had as many walks as strikeouts. The regular season has not been kind to the veteran. Polanco has a miserable 53 wRC+, which would rank among the worst in the league if he qualified for the leaderboard. Only seven qualified hitters have a wRC+ below 50.
The contact quality metrics suggest Polanco has earned his poor start. He has a 33.3% hard-hit rate, his lowest mark since 2019. Polanco has recorded just two barrels on 45 batted balls. His average exit velocity has slipped to 87.3 mph, a 3.5 mph decrease from his career-best output in 2025. Polanco has certainly been unlucky with a .205 batting average on balls in play, but he hasn’t helped himself with the weak contact numbers.
The wrist issue isn’t Polanco’s first malady with the Mets. He also dealt with Achilles soreness, leading to a handful of missed games during April. Health has been a frequent issue for the veteran during his career. Before playing in 138 games last season, Polanco had only topped 130 contests twice since 2018. He reached 500 plate appearances for only the fourth time in his 13-year MLB career in 2025.
Who is Playing First Base for the Mets?
With Polanco on the shelf, Mark Vientos has earned the majority of the reps at first base. The 26-year-old leads the team with 90 plate appearances at the position. He was spending time at the cold corner, even with Polanco healthy, since the veteran was forced to DH while nursing the Achilles issue.
Vientos has delivered a 97 wRC+ in 28 games. He’s slashed .239/.290/.413 as New York’s primary first baseman. The team ranks 24th in OPS at the position with a .644 mark. Vientos has taken a step forward in the contact department, striking out at a career-low 24% clip. After punching out nearly 30% of the time in each of his first three big-league seasons, Vientos has that number under 25% in back-to-back campaigns. The increase in contact has come with a decline in power. Vientos has a .174 ISO, which is more than 20 points below his career mark.
Mets Get Discouraging Injury News on $40 Million Hitter