The New York Mets signed Jorge Polanco expecting him to anchor first base. That plan hasn’t worked out so far, and it might not work out anytime soon.
Polanco has been sidelined since April with a right wrist contusion and left Achilles bursitis. The wrist is reportedly 100% healed now, but the Achilles is still giving him some trouble. He’s been working through a rehab assignment, and Mets bench coach Andy Green gave a pretty clear picture of what the team has in mind when Polanco comes back.
“He is a guy who can help us dramatically, even just in the DH spot,” Green said. “Right now, it’s been DH priorities, and we’ll make a determination on how he’s feeling, whether that’s the right thing to get him to first base or not.”
That’s not what anyone wanted to hear when the Mets signed Polanco. But the reality is his legs aren’t all the way back. The Achilles issue limits how much he can move around in the field, and the team doesn’t want to push it. So for now, the plan is to ease him back as a designated hitter.
No Timetable Yet for Polanco’s Return
Green was asked whether Polanco might get some first base reps during his rehab assignment or if the team would wait until he’s fully back with the big league club to make that call.
“I think potentially first base reps in the rehab assignment. Right now, we’re on the DH portion of the rehab assignment,” Green said. “If he continues to handle that portion well and he continues to feel better, he’s taking ground balls, we’ll continue to push him there, but right now, it’s DH. He could certainly help our club coming back as just a DH if we thought that was the case. We’ll reserve the right to make a judgment at the time based on how he’s feeling and how he’s swinging the bat.”
So it’s a wait-and-see situation. The Mets aren’t committing to anything beyond the DH spot right now. If Polanco keeps feeling better and starts swinging it well, maybe he gets some first base work. But there’s no guarantee.
As for a target date, there isn’t one. The team hasn’t announced anything specific. Polanco is still working his way back, and the Mets are taking it slow. The organization clearly wants him back in the lineup, but they don’t want to rush him and risk a setback.
For a Mets team that could use some offensive consistency, a healthy Polanco — even if he’s only hitting — would be a boost. But the big question is whether his body will let him play first base again anytime soon. Right now, it’s DH or nothing.
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