Francisco Lindor’s Hellish 2026 Hits New Low

After a spring‑training hamate fracture and a strained left calf, Francisco Lindor returned June 24 only to see his 2026 campaign unravel. In his first 18 games back he posted a .162 batting line—12‑for‑74 with three homers, seven RBIs, eight runs and 11 strikeouts. Before his injuries he had opened the year at .226/.314/.355, a stark contrast to his current slump.

Defensively, Lindor has become a liability. He has logged six errors in 41 games this season, averaging one miscue every 6.8 contests—worse than his previous worst year when he misfielded the ball once every 12.2 games. His third error in as many games came during a 6‑1 loss to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park in front of 41,133 fans.

Lindor’s own miscues were just the tip of the iceberg. The Mets also suffered from a rash of team‑wide errors, including a misplay by Carson Benge, a wide throw by Francisco Alvarez on Kyle Schwarber, and a rundown mistake involving Sean Manaea. Those lapses helped the Phillies plate two runs after Schwarber reached on the errant throw.

Saturday’s three additional blunders pushed the Mets to 69 errors on the season, placing them second in the NL behind the Nationals. Manager Andy Green emphasized a need for aggressive, confident fielding, noting the recent break from play has made it harder to shake off the rust.

Rehab Efforts and Hopes for a Turnaround

Clay Holmes, recovering from a fractured fibula, threw roughly 45 pitches in live batting practice after a postponed rehab start. Green expects the right‑hander to build up to a five‑inning appearance before rejoining the majors. Meanwhile, Luis Robert Jr. is nearing a return, having completed his seventh rehab game with Triple‑A Syracuse.

When Robert comes back, the Mets plan to split his playing time with promising rookies Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing. Green believes the brief rest will benefit the young talents, allowing them to showcase their skills before the veteran returns.

Lindor’s own quote after the latest loss captured his determination: “It’s been a high mountain that’s in front of me… I will climb it. I will get better and be to the standard that I expect myself and the one that everyone has for me.” The team’s challenge remains turning a season‑long defensive collapse into a winning momentum as the calendar moves deeper into summer.