Mets say Francisco Lindor has progressed to simulated baseball, with a June return still possible

Francisco Lindor’s return timeline with the New York Mets remains uncertain, but the organization is now pointing to a specific window. After Lindor suffered a strained left calf while running the bases against the Minnesota Twins on April 22, the Mets say he has started playing simulated games and that his progress has been significant enough to create optimism about a return by the end of June.

Manager Carlos Mendoza indicated that Lindor played a two-inning simulated game on Friday. While simulated work is not the same as game speed or full defensive reps in a live series, it is a key checkpoint in most calf recovery processes because it suggests the player can produce movement, deceleration, and controlled acceleration without the injury compromising his mechanics.

The Mets’ broader plan depends on whether Lindor can move through the next stages without setbacks. Mendoza’s comments, as relayed by Yahoo Sports, also set the context that the team is treating Lindor’s recovery as a progression, not a timeline fixed in advance. Calf strains can linger, and teams typically prefer to see the player complete multiple ramp-up sessions before altering the regular-season workload expectations.

President of baseball operations David Stearns added the organizational perspective, expressing hope that Lindor could be back with the Mets by the end of June. That is a meaningful target because it aligns with a period when MLB rosters start to take their final shape for the summer, including how the team weighs everyday stability at premium positions against the cost of carrying a less familiar configuration through the season.

From a roster standpoint, Lindor’s role goes beyond defense at shortstop. As the Mets’ primary infield centerpiece, his return affects lineup continuity, internal chemistry, and the distribution of responsibilities across the rest of the infield. A temporary adjustment at shortstop usually ripples into who takes which ground-ball reps, how the club handles double-play combinations, and how hitters prepare when their infield’s coordination shifts.

The Mets’ short-term baseball decisions also hinge on whether the team can fully use the time Lindor is away to both manage his recovery and avoid overextending other players. Even if the Mets are encouraged by simulated success, the organization will still need to balance cautious reintegration with the practical reality of an MLB schedule that does not pause for rehab.

In the next few weeks, Lindor’s next steps are expected to be the real story: whether he can progress from simulated innings to longer live-session workloads, and whether the Mets believe he can handle the full defensive demands of shortstop without limitation. The end-of-June window is not a guarantee, but the shift to two-inning simulated baseball suggests the injury is no longer in the purely restrictive phase.