Source: Mets' Francisco Lindor played through elbow injury all season
As if Francisco Lindor’s 2023 season weren’t impressive enough, it turns out that he was playing through an injury the entire time.
According to a person with direct knowledge of the situation, Lindor first felt the effects of the bone spur in his right elbow during spring training. The discomfort lingered through the season, but he did not want to make it public, or stop playing.
On Tuesday, the Mets announced that Lindor underwent surgery to remove the spur, and said that he was expected to be ready for spring training.
Lindor, who values what he calls "posting up" as highly as anyone, played in 160 games this year and became the fourth player in Mets history to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases.
But perhaps most impressive was his defense, newly unshackled by MLB’s limitations on defensive shifts. The rule changes showcased Lindor’s range and athleticism and led to many sparkling plays.
Baseballsavant.com graded Lindor’s range in the 90th percentile in 2023, and his arm strength in the 20th percentile. While the latter number seemed lower than the eye test, one can assume that his throwing will be better in 2024, after the elbow cleanup.
