New York Mets outfielder Juan Lagares has been diagnosed with a partial tear of a ligament in his left thumb, after making a diving catch that saved two runs in the seventh inning of Saturday’s game in Miami.
The team announced that Lagares will not be placed on the disabled list, and will rejoin the team instead as they play a three game set in Pittsburgh.
“There’s a good chance he will be able to play with it,” assistant GM John Ricco said before the Mets’ game against the Pirates was postponed because of rain. “But we won’t know that until some of the swelling gets out of there and he gets a chance to see how he feels.”
The Mets are calculating that Lagares can play through the injury and then undergo surgery to repair the ligament after the season according to Ricco.
Manager Terry Collins said he will play short-handed on the bench for the next few days until the swelling around his thumb goes down, but that he would use Lagares as a pinch runner if the need arises.
In the wake of the string of injuries the Mets have endured recently, Lagares has been a bright spot, hitting .286/.348/.571 in his last seven games while continuing to showcase his Gold Glove defense in center field.
One has to figure, however, that if Lagares’ thumb becomes an issue and the outfielder is forced to a disabled list stint, prospect Brandon Nimmo could receive a call-up.
Nimmo, 23, is the #4 Mets prospect according to MLB.com, and is hitting .306/.388/.461 with two homers and 24 RBI’s in Las Vegas this season.
Updated 6/7
