Mets Lose Polanco to Injured List as Woes Mount

Infielder sidelined with wrist contusion as New York's early season struggles continue.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 5:27pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game or match, with the players and field broken down into overlapping planes of vibrant blue and orange colors representing the New York Mets' uniform colors.The Mets' injury troubles continue to disrupt their season as they struggle to field a competitive lineup.NYC Today

The New York Mets have placed infielder Jorge Polanco on the 10-day injured list due to a right wrist contusion. Polanco has been dealing with Achilles bursitis for the past three weeks and missed the last two games before the team made the IL move retroactive to April 15. The Mets have also been without outfielder Juan Soto since April 3 due to a right calf strain, adding to their early season injury troubles.

Why it matters

The Mets have lost nine straight games and are off to a disappointing start this season. Losing key players like Polanco and Soto to injuries is only exacerbating their struggles as they try to turn things around and get back into playoff contention.

The details

Polanco, who signed a two-year, $40 million contract with the Mets in the offseason, has struggled at the plate so far, hitting just .179/.246/.286 with one home run and two RBIs in 14 games. Manager Carlos Mendoza said that when doctors initially examined Polanco's wrist during the Dodgers series this week, it appeared he had been hit by a pitch, even though that was not the case. Mendoza did not provide a timetable for Polanco's return, but said his ankle injury was trending in the right direction.

  • Polanco was placed on the 10-day injured list on April 18, 2026, retroactive to April 15.
  • Polanco has been dealing with Achilles bursitis for the past three weeks.

The players

Jorge Polanco

An infielder for the New York Mets who was recently placed on the 10-day injured list with a right wrist contusion.

Juan Soto

An outfielder for the New York Mets who has been out since April 3 with a right calf strain.

Carlos Mendoza

The manager of the New York Mets.

Hayden Senger

A catcher who has been called up by the New York Mets to replace Polanco on the roster.

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What they’re saying

“When doctors initially looked at Polanco's wrist during the Dodgers series this week, it appeared as if he had been hit by a pitch when he had not been.”

— Carlos Mendoza, Manager

What’s next

The Mets will have to find a way to fill the void left by Polanco's absence as they try to end their nine-game losing streak and get their season back on track.

The takeaway

The Mets' early season injury woes continue to mount, with the loss of key players like Polanco and Soto only exacerbating their struggles as they try to turn things around and get back into playoff contention.