Mets: Lagares undergoes successful surgery on thumb

Juan Lagares suffered a fractured thumb last week. The team announced Monday he underwent successful surgery

The New York Mets announced outfielder Juan Lagares underwent successful surgery on his thumb at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Lagares is currently on the disabled list and there is no clear timetable for his return after the injury occurred last week.

No injury comes at a good time, but the Mets suffered a rash of them at the worst time. Lagares was getting consistent playing time while Yoenis Cespedes was being protected in his return and Michael Conforto was dealing with a back issue for several days. Prior to that, Lagares was putting together a very productive month.

In 12 June games, Lagares hit .355 (11-31) with six RBI. Seven of those games were starts. Between April and May, Lagares had started just 11 games and hit .203. Lagares when healthy is also the best defensive option the Mets currently possess. Despite limited playing time for the better part of the season, Lagares still had seven defensive runs saved.

The Mets will certainly continue to go with the core of Cespedes, Conforto, and Jay Bruce. However, Lagares provided a late game defensive option and a fourth outfielder Terry Collins could rotate in when Cespedes was getting designed days off like Sunday. That role falls squarely back to Curtis Granderson for the time being.

Brandon Nimmo was promoted after the Lagares injury. In other outfield news, the Mets released Desmond Jennings over the weekend.

Here’s another factor in play: Conforto has been thriving in the lead-off spot until a recent slide. He did collect two hits Sunday so hopefully the ship will steady. The problem is who hits in the two spot? Asdrubal Cabrera started the year in that slot, but is now out. With the way Lagares was hitting, he could have been an option but that’s out for now. Neil Walker was another option pre-hamstring injury.

Collins did use Cespedes in that spot in an effort to get his most dangerous bat more trips to the plate. That’s a mimic of what other teams are doing with their heavy hitters (see Giancarlo Stanton and Kris Bryant). Going forward, T.J. Rivera might be another option to consider.

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It’s a shame for Lagares who has dealt with his share of thumb injuries and is still just three years removed from a Gold Glove. Lagares was starting to provide more value at the plate and hopefully he can regain that form soon once he returns.