Massive injury update on Mets' Francisco Lindor emerges

The New York Mets have remained arguably the biggest disappointment of the ongoing MLB season as star shortstop Francisco Lindor has been out of the lineup since he first suffered a calf injury on April 22. 

It sounds like Lindor is nearing his return to action. 

Francisco Lindor has a return date in mind

As shared by Christian Arnold of the New York Post, MLB insider Jon Heyman of The Post has reported that Lindor wants "to return to the field" on June 20, when the Mets will be in the middle of a series at the rival Philadelphia Phillies. Earlier in the week, Lindor spoke with reporters and offered a positive update regarding his recovery.

"I can do everything," Lindor said at the time. "I feel like I’m getting better. I continue to check all the boxes they have for me. ...Obviously, I want to be playing, but from what they say, everything is going the way it was planned."

Things have mostly not gone as Lindor and the Mets planned throughout 2026. He needed a procedure in February for a stress reaction to his left hamate bone, and he has since played in just 24 regular-season games. Lindor was responsible for a .226/.314/.355 slash line with two home runs and five RBI when he went down with what became a lingering calf issue. 

Will Francisco Lindor return even matter for the Mets? 

This week, the Mets lost two of three home games to the St. Louis Cardinals to fall to 30-38 on the campaign. While news of Lindor's imminent return is a positive for the Mets, the fact remains that neither he nor anybody else with the club may be able to prevent team president of baseball operations David Stearns and owner Steve Cohen from soon punting on the remainder of the campaign. 

Starting pitcher Freddy Peralta is among a handful of Mets players who are already being mentioned in rumors regarding the trade deadline, which will arrive on Aug. 3. Meanwhile, the Lindor-less Mets will begin a three-game home series versus the first-place Atlanta Braves (45-23) on Friday evening.