The New York Mets received more disappointing injury news regarding veteran infielder Jorge Polanco, as manager Carlos Mendoza revealed that the former All-Star is still not close to beginning a rehab assignment while recovering from a right wrist contusion.
According to reports from Newsday’s Laura Albanese, Polanco’s recovery has not progressed enough for baseball activities at a level that would allow him to start working his way back to the major league roster. The update is another frustrating development for a Mets team that has already battled numerous injuries and offensive struggles throughout the season.
New York signed Polanco to a two-year, $40 million contract during the offseason with the expectation that he would help stabilize the middle of the lineup and provide veteran production after longtime slugger Pete Alonso departed in free agency for a massive deal with the Baltimore Orioles. The Mets hoped Polanco’s switch-hitting ability, defensive versatility, and experience would make him a key contributor in 2026.
Instead, his first season in Queens has gotten off to a rough start.
Before landing on the injured list, Polanco appeared in only 14 games and struggled badly at the plate, hitting just .179 with a .246 on-base percentage and a .286 slugging percentage across 61 plate appearances. The veteran has failed to provide the offensive spark the Mets envisioned when they invested heavily in him over the winter.
The injury concerns are especially troubling because Polanco had already been dealing with physical issues earlier in the year. Prior to the wrist injury, he missed time in April while battling Achilles soreness, forcing the Mets to use him frequently as a designated hitter instead of in the field. Durability has been a recurring issue throughout Polanco’s career, making the latest setback even more concerning for the organization.
Although Polanco looked sharp during spring training, that success has not carried over into the regular season. In exhibition play, he posted a strong 146 wRC+ and showed solid plate discipline with two home runs and an equal number of walks and strikeouts. Once the games started counting, however, his production plummeted dramatically.
His current 53 wRC+ ranks among the lowest for major league hitters and reflects just how ineffective he has been offensively. Advanced metrics paint an equally concerning picture. Polanco’s hard-hit rate has dropped to 33.3%, his weakest mark since 2019, while his average exit velocity has fallen significantly from last season. He has barreled only two balls in 45 batted-ball events, showing a clear lack of impactful contact.
There has been some bad luck involved, particularly with a low batting average on balls in play, but the underlying numbers suggest much of the offensive decline has been performance-related rather than purely unfortunate results.
Meanwhile, the Mets’ offense as a whole continues to underperform. Injuries to stars like Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor have further weakened a lineup that already ranks near the bottom of Major League Baseball in run production. Entering the latest stretch of the season, only the San Francisco Giants have scored fewer runs than New York.
With Polanco unavailable, Mark Vientos has taken over most of the duties at first base. The 26-year-old has received the bulk of the playing time at the position and has delivered mixed results. While he has improved his strikeout rate and made more consistent contact than in previous seasons, his power numbers have dipped noticeably.
Vientos is batting .239 with a .290 on-base percentage and a .413 slugging percentage while producing roughly league-average offense. However, the Mets still rank near the bottom of the league in OPS from the first base position, highlighting how much they miss the type of production Alonso once provided.
For now, the Mets appear to be stuck waiting for Polanco’s health to improve, and there is still no clear timetable for his return. Given the team’s ongoing offensive struggles and growing injury concerns, his absence remains a significant issue as New York attempts to stay competitive in the National League race.
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