Jul 20, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; New York Mets designated hitter Jorge Polanco (11) hits an RBI single during the eighth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
QUEENS, NY — Jorge Polanco’s disastrous debut season in Queens has come to a merciful end, with the Mets placing the veteran infielder/DH on the 10-day injured list with left ankle bursitis.
Interim manager Andy Green revealed that the issue requires surgery, which will be performed in the “near term.”
“He’s battled all year, this left ankle bursitis that he’s had. Something he didn’t deal with prior to this season,” Green said. “It’s gotten to a point where he just can’t get freedom from the pain. He has gone out there and grinded and tried. He’s wanted to post for this team, but it’s at a point now where surgery is actually his best option, and that’s the direction we’re headed with this to kind of alleviate this.”
Polanco missed nearly three months earlier this season due to this issue, which basically made him a non-factor at the plate when he was available. Across 135 at-bats, he batted .148 with a .431 OPS, two home runs and six RBI. The 33-year-old signed a two-year, $40 million deal to join the Mets as Pete Alonso’s replacement at first base, along with getting DH at-bats as well.
“He’s felt the burden of producing for the team, for the city, for the fans,” Green said. “I know that has been heavy on him at times. Just my observation from seeing him through the years and watching him hit, watching him produce, I do think it has affected him mechanically, like the ability to load into that back foot in the way that he typically does.”
The initial expectation is that Polanco will be working through his initial baseball progressions by the time spring training starts, should there actually be an exhibition season and no lockout, which appears to be an imminent threat as the owners and players’ union gear up to feud over a potential salary cap. Whether or not he will be ready for the start of the 2027 season remains to be seen.
“The expectation is a great 2027 for him,” Green said.
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