Mets' Polanco Dealing with Achilles Injury, IL Stint Possible

Manager says veteran's status remains 'fluid' as he struggles at the plate

Apr. 9, 2026 at 10:22pm

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A dynamic, neon-colored painting featuring bold, energetic brushstrokes that capture the raw power and motion of a baseball player swinging a bat, conceptually representing the Mets' Jorge Polanco's struggle with an Achilles injury.An abstract expressionist depiction of the Mets' Jorge Polanco's ongoing battle with an Achilles injury that has limited his playing time.NYC Today

New York Mets designated hitter Jorge Polanco is dealing with a sore left Achilles that has hampered his performance, with manager Carlos Mendoza revealing a potential injured list stint is still a possibility as the team monitors the situation day-to-day.

Why it matters

Polanco's injury has forced the Mets to shuffle their lineup, playing other infielders at first base, and his struggles at the plate have impacted the team's offensive production early in the season.

The details

Polanco, who signed to play first base but has been limited to the DH role due to the Achilles issue, was held out of the lineup for the Mets' series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks. In the nine games since Opening Day, when the discomfort first arose, Polanco is batting just .189/.250/.270.

  • The injury first cropped up during the Mets' opening series of the season.
  • Polanco was left out of the lineup for the team's series finale against the Diamondbacks on April 9, 2026.

The players

Jorge Polanco

A veteran middle infielder who signed with the Mets to play first base but has been limited to the designated hitter role due to a sore left Achilles.

Carlos Mendoza

The manager of the New York Mets.

Brett Baty

An infielder who has played first base for the Mets in Polanco's absence.

Jared Young

An infielder who has played first base for the Mets in Polanco's absence.

Mark Vientos

An infielder who has played first base for the Mets in Polanco's absence.

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What they’re saying

“It's kind of day-to-day. There's going to be some good days, and there's going to be days where he feels it more. Yesterday was one of those days.”

— Carlos Mendoza, Mets Manager

What’s next

The Mets will continue to monitor Polanco's Achilles injury and determine if he needs to be placed on the injured list in the coming days.

The takeaway

Polanco's lingering Achilles issue has forced the Mets to get creative with their lineup, and his struggles at the plate have been a concern early in the season. The team will have to weigh the risks of keeping him active versus potentially shutting him down for a stretch to allow the injury to fully heal.