New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was activated from the injured list Tuesday and is in the Mets’ lineup for their home game against the San Francisco Giants.
The Mets optioned infielder Travis Blankenhorn and right-handed pitcher Yennsy Diaz to Triple-A Syracuse and added right-hander Heath Hembree to the active roster in corresponding moves.
Lindor started at shortstop and hit third in the lineup.
Lindor missed the Mets’ last 36 games with a strained right oblique. He last played July 16 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, when he sustained the injury.
The 27-year-old is in his first season in New York after joining the team via trade and signing a 10-year, $341 million contract extension in April. He played for the Cleveland Indians from 2015-20, earning American League All-Star honors four times.
He hasn’t lived up to his reputation offensively, as he recently admitted to reporters in a conference call. Lindor is batting .228 this season with 11 home runs, 11 doubles and 36 RBIs over 87 games.
Lindor was asked about Mets owner Steve Cohen’s recent tweet that “it’s hard to understand how professional hitters can be this unproductive,” a clear shot at his team’s lackluster offense.
“We haven’t really hit all year long,” Lindor said. “I haven’t performed. I haven’t done it. Bottom line, I haven’t done what I’m here to do when it comes to the offensive side.
“Defense, they can’t talk to me. Baserunning, they can’t talk to me, either. But offensively, yeah, criticize me. Say whatever. You’re right. You’re all right. I’m with them. I haven’t performed.”
Tuesday marks the first game Lindor will play alongside Mets trade-deadline acquisition Javier Baez, the former Chicago Cubs infielder. Baez — who has played shortstop in all 10 of his starts for the Mets thus far — was slated to shift over to second base and bat cleanup Tuesday.
The Mets selected Hembree, 32, off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds on Aug. 20. He is 2-7 this year with a 6.38 ERA in 45 relief appearances. He has struck out 68 batters over 42 1/3 innings but served up 10 homers.
–Field Level Media
The San Francisco Giants will look to further close the gap in their all-time rivalry with the visiting Oakland Athletics when they seek a second straight win Wednesday night in…
The Cleveland Guardians and Los Angeles Angels will play the third game of their four-game series Wednesday night in Anaheim, Calif., as the Guardians try to rediscover their offense. Cleveland’s…
The Los Angeles Kings are playoff-bound for the first time since the 2017-18 season. The Kings (43-27-10, 96 points) punched their postseason ticket Tuesday night when Dallas defeated Vegas in…
Guardians, slumping Franmil Reyes take on Shohei Ohtani’s Angels
Playoff-bound Kings seek to keep Kraken reeling
Six-man rotation kicks in as Astros, Cristian Javier face Rangers
Jason Robertson, Stars can lock up playoff berth vs. Coyotes