Mets' Francisco Lindor takes batting practice; Kodai Senga set for rehab start Saturday
Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor in the dugout during the fifth inning of a game against the Phillies at Citi Field on Thursday. Credit: Noah K. Murray
Francisco Lindor isn’t back yet, but his smile is.
It’s been a rough week for the Mets’ shortstop, forced out of the lineup for a fifth consecutive game Friday by a lingering back injury. As he bounced off the field after batting practice, though, he looked more like his regular happy self than he had in previous days.
It was his first time swinging a bat since exiting early in last Sunday’s game. This marked tangible progress.
“I feel good,” said Lindor, who did not answer the next question of whether he’ll play Saturday.
Manager Carlos Mendoza said Lindor feasibly could return a day after he resumes a full slate of baseball activities. It was not clear whether his two rounds of BP (fewer than usual) with what appeared to be less-than-full swings cleared that threshold.
“When he can go, he’s going to let us know,” Mendoza said. “If he feels like he’s good enough to help the team and not put himself in a position where he’s in danger of risking or injuring something else, he’s going to go and play. We trust him. If he says I’m good to go whenever, he’ll be in the lineup playing shortstop and leading off.”
Senga update
Kodai Senga (left calf strain) will pitch for Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday. Mendoza said he will max out at two innings or 35 pitches.
That lines Senga up to return as soon as Friday, when the Mets open their final series of the regular season in Milwaukee. The most likely role for Senga — whatever day he pitches — is starter, even if it necessarily will be a short outing (likely with another starter pitching behind him to cover most of the rest of the game).
“Before we put him in any major-league competition, we’re going to make sure that we have confidence that he’s ready to go,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said, “and frankly, most importantly, that he has confidence that he’s ready to go.”
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
