Mets’ Francisco Lindor Set for June Return — But the Timeline Is Deliberately Fuzzy

The New York Mets have been navigating choppy waters without their franchise shortstop, and now there’s finally a clearer picture of when Francisco Lindor might step back on the field. But if you’re hoping for a specific date circled on the calendar, you’ll have to wait a little longer.

Speaking Friday, team president of baseball operations David Stearns confirmed the organization expects Lindor to suit up in Mets games sometime this month. The catch? No one is pinning down exactly when — and that vagueness is very much intentional.

“Our expectation is he’s going to play games for us this month,” Stearns told reporters, including those from SNY Mets. “I don’t know exactly when this month, but that means we’re getting closer, and we want to go as fast as possible, as smart as possible, and that’s a delicate line.”

That careful balancing act between urgency and caution has defined Lindor’s recovery since he last played on April 22 in a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins. So far, he’s posted a .226 batting average with two home runs and five RBIs across 24 games — numbers that undersell his value to a team that has looked inconsistent without him.

Manager Carlos Mendoza provided more specific insight into what Lindor is doing behind the scenes. The shortstop is working through what Mendoza called “controlled environments,” starting with live at-bats and simulated defensive innings.

“He started today some live at-bats,” Mendoza said. “We simulated two innings on defense where he was taking ground balls. He didn’t run the bases when he made contact, but then he went through the program. It’s kind of like more of a controlled environment that we’re simulating game action, but we’re controlling it.”

Mendoza added that Lindor will repeat the process next week, increasing from two to three or five simulated innings before the team reassesses at the end of the week. The message is clear: Lindor is inching forward, but the Mets are refusing to rush a player who remains central to their long-term plans.

The timing matters. New York has leaned heavily on Juan Soto and the supporting cast to stay afloat, but the team’s struggles have been hard to ignore. Lindor’s return — whenever it comes — could provide a much-needed jolt to both the lineup and the clubhouse.

For now, the Mets are playing the long game. And if that means keeping the exact timeline under wraps, they seem perfectly comfortable with the ambiguity.