Morning Briefing: Hamate Bone Knocks Out MLB Stars

Good morning, Mets fans!

Mets pitchers and catchers reported to spring training on Wednesday. However, the club’s star shortstop was  in the operating room on Wednesday instead. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters that Francisco Lindor underwent surgery on the hamate bone in his left hand; the team is “optimistic” that he will be ready for Opening Day.

Lindor isn’t the only MLB star being sidelined with a hamate bone injury. Baltimore Orioles shortstop Jackson Holliday will miss Opening Day for the O’s as he is undergoing surgery on his broken right hamate bone on Thursday, per Roch Kubatko of MASN. Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star outfielder Corbin Carroll also broke the hamate bone in his right hand and had surgery on Wednesday, per Jeff Passan of ESPN. Carroll will miss the World Baseball Classic and his status for Opening Day is in flux.

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Even with Lindor out, Bo Bichette will not get reps at shortstop according to Carlos Mendoza: “Right now, we have to make sure we get him comfortable at third base, and that’s where he’s going to be getting his work defensively.”

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In some strange news, Phillies ace Zack Wheeler has kept the rib that was removed in his thoracic outlet surgery in his closet, per Lochlahn March of Philly Inquirer. Yes… that is a real report.

Meanwhile, 2023 World Series hero Jordan Montgomery reunites with his champion-winning squad, signing a one-year, $1.25 million deal with the Texas Rangers, per Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News.

All 30 MLB teams will have public pitch and batted ball data for every game this spring as every spring training venue now has Statcast coverage, per Thomas Nestico.

Spencer Schwellenbach told reporters that he may need to have arthroscopic surgery to have bone spurs removed from his elbow, per Mark Bowman of MLB.com.

Josh Hader experienced “arm soreness” before his fourth bullpen of the winter and had imaging that revealed “bicep inflammation”, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Hader resumed his throwing program on Wednesday, but his availability for opening day is uncertain.

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed right-handed relief pitcher Evan Phillips to a one-year, $6.5 million deal.

Catcher Gary Sanchez signed a one-year, $1.75 million contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, per Jon Heyman of NY Post.

Left-handed reliever John King and the Miami Marlins came to an agreement on a one-year, $1.5 million contract, per Jeff Passan of ESPN.

Chris Bassitt signed a one-year, $18.5 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles, per Jeff Passan of ESPN.

The Minnesota Twins signed reliever Liam Hendriks to a minor league deal with an invitation to big league camp, per Robert Murray of FanSided.

A lawyer for pitcher Luis Ortiz characterized his client as a “victim” of his teammate, All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase, per Zack Meisel of The Athletic.

Starting pitcher Miles Mikolas agreed to a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals, per Jake Mintz of Yahoo Sports.

Despite still being on their payroll, Nicholas Castellanos was told not to report to Phillies spring training and is expected to be moved in the next couple of days, per Matt Gelb of The Athletic.

Latest on MMO

MMO makes sense of the Mets’ offseason.

Mets star shortstop Francisco Lindor underwent surgery.

Check out MMO’s updates from Port St. Lucie on Wednesday.

On This Date in Mets History

2016: Jenrry Mejía is permanently suspended from MLB after testing positive for PEDs for the third time.

1992: Keith Hernandez appears on a new episode of Seinfeld.

Born on This Date: Todd Frazier (1986), Tim Redding (1978), Dennis Springer (1965), Lenny Randle (1949), Frank Estrada (1948).

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