Mets' Polanco sidelined again by Achilles issue

First baseman's ankle discomfort resurfaces, keeping him out of Friday's lineup against Giants

Apr. 4, 2026 at 4:36am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball player's movements broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes, conveying the physical challenge and uncertainty of an injury.A fragmented, cubist-inspired illustration captures the physical strain and uncertainty surrounding a key Mets player's nagging injury.NYC Today

New York Mets first baseman Jorge Polanco is dealing with a lingering Achilles issue that has kept him out of the lineup for the second time in four games. Manager Carlos Mendoza said Polanco's ankle discomfort resurfaced on Thursday, forcing him to sit out Friday's game against the San Francisco Giants. Polanco has been used as a designated hitter since Sunday due to the injury, which Mendoza is calling tendonitis. The Mets have been rotating players at first base, with Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, and Jared Young all seeing time at the position.

Why it matters

Polanco's Achilles injury is a concern for the Mets, as the first baseman has been a key part of their lineup. The team will need to carefully manage his recovery to ensure he can return to full strength and contribute consistently throughout the season.

The details

Polanco's left Achilles issue first surfaced earlier this week, but he had been progressing in recent days according to Mendoza. However, the discomfort resurfaced on Thursday, forcing him to be scratched from Friday's lineup against the Giants. Polanco has not played first base since last Saturday due to the injury, with the Mets rotating several players at the position in his absence.

  • Polanco last played first base on Saturday, March 30, 2026.
  • Polanco was used as a designated hitter on Sunday, April 1, 2026.
  • Polanco was out of the lineup on Thursday, April 4, 2026 due to the resurfaced Achilles issue.
  • Polanco was held out of the lineup again on Friday, April 5, 2026.

The players

Jorge Polanco

A first baseman for the New York Mets who is dealing with a lingering Achilles injury that has kept him out of the lineup.

Carlos Mendoza

The manager of the New York Mets, who has been providing updates on Polanco's injury status.

Brett Baty

A Mets player who has received starts at first base in Polanco's absence.

Mark Vientos

A Mets player who has also received starts at first base while Polanco has been sidelined.

Jared Young

A Mets player who has seen time at first base with Polanco out of the lineup.

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What they’re saying

“'I am not going to say concern, but it's a day to day. He's got days where he feels it more and for the past couple of days he was in a pretty good place until [Thursday] night.'”

— Carlos Mendoza, Mets Manager

“'[Thursday] night the way he moved, a couple of plays there. He's moving around well, not only when he's fielding the baseball, but just how he's receiving the throws. He's looked really good there.'”

— Carlos Mendoza, Mets Manager

What’s next

The Mets will continue to monitor Polanco's Achilles injury and determine when he can safely return to the lineup, either at first base or as a designated hitter. The team will likely continue rotating players at first base until Polanco is ready to play the position again.

The takeaway

Polanco's lingering Achilles issue is a concern for the Mets, as the first baseman has been an important part of their lineup. The team will need to carefully manage his recovery to ensure he can return to full strength and contribute consistently throughout the season.