Mets' Jorge Polanco's Achilles issue could land him on injured list

Polanco has been limited to DH duties since the second game of the season due to lingering left Achilles soreness.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 4:04am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball player in motion, with their body and movements fractured and abstracted into sharp, overlapping planes of blue and orange.Polanco's lingering Achilles injury forces the Mets to shuffle their lineup, exposing the team's depth challenges early in the season.NYC Today

Jorge Polanco was out of the lineup Thursday against Arizona left-hander Eduardo Rodríguez with lingering left Achilles soreness, and manager Carlos Mendoza said the first baseman could end up on the IL. Polanco has been limited to DH duties since the second game of the season when he first began to feel discomfort in the area, and the issue has not resolved itself.

Why it matters

Polanco is a major part of the Mets' offseason transformation, and his absence from the field could be a significant blow to the team's lineup and production at first base. The Mets are already dealing with injuries to other key players like Juan Soto, so Polanco's potential IL stint adds to their roster challenges early in the season.

The details

Mendoza said Polanco felt the Achilles soreness again on Wednesday, which led to Thursday's decision to sit him against the lefty. The manager said it's a 'fluid' situation and they'll have to see how it progresses, with no clear timeline on how long Polanco might be dealing with the discomfort. With Polanco out, Mark Vientos played first base and Francisco Alvarez was the DH.

  • Polanco first began to feel the Achilles discomfort in the second game of the season.
  • Polanco was out of the lineup on Thursday, April 10, 2026.

The players

Jorge Polanco

A 32-year-old first baseman for the New York Mets who has been dealing with lingering left Achilles soreness since the second game of the season, limiting him to DH duties.

Carlos Mendoza

The manager of the New York Mets.

Mark Vientos

A Mets player who filled in at first base with Polanco sidelined.

Francisco Alvarez

A Mets player who served as the DH with Polanco out of the lineup.

Juan Soto

A Mets player who is currently on the injured list with a strained right calf.

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What they’re saying

“'It is a possibility that we get to a point where we need to give him a break. It's fluid. We'll see what we've got.'”

— Carlos Mendoza, Mets Manager

“'We're being cautious. I want to be in the right spot when I come back. We have a plan and we'll follow it.'”

— Juan Soto

What’s next

The Mets will continue to monitor Polanco's Achilles issue and determine if he needs to be placed on the injured list to allow the injury to fully heal.

The takeaway

Polanco's Achilles injury is the latest setback for the Mets, who are already dealing with injuries to key players like Juan Soto. The team will have to find a way to weather these early-season roster challenges and keep their lineup productive while important pieces are sidelined.