​Of course the New York Mets have suffered another injury blow. That just seems to be the reality for the franchise this season in Queens. On Thursday, July 9, Mark Vientos fractured his right hand when a pitch from Kansas City’s Michael Wacha ran inside and struck him on a checked swing in the second inning. He remained in the game to run but exited the following inning and will be placed on the injured list, interim manager Andy Green confirmed after the Mets’ 7-3 victory over the Royals at Citi Field. Green did not provide a timetable for Vientos’ return, but broken bones typically require six to eight weeks of recovery.
The injury compounds what has already been a cursed year for the Mets, a season that has felt like a running string of misfortunes. The team began with baseball’s highest payroll at $358 million, only to open April with a 12-game losing streak. The struggles continued, culminating in the firing of manager Carlos Mendoza in late June—the franchise’s first in-season managerial change since Willie Randolph was dismissed in 2008—days after a six-error nightmare against the Cubs.
Meanwhile, across the league, the injury bug has been relentless. After earning his 10th All-Star selection, Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander announced that this season would be his last. The 43-year-old posted on social media that injuries this year have limited him to a single start and have challenged him in ways he has never experienced, physically and mentally, during his 21-year big-league career. Verlander, who has logged 266 wins, three Cy Young Awards and an MVP, is also a two-time World Series champion with the Houston Astros (2017 and 2022). A look back at his storied career is a reminder of the peaks he has reached and the battles he has faced to stay at the top of the game.
The Mets’ injured list has already claimed a number of key players this season, including Francisco Lindor, Marcus Semien, Luis Robert Jr., Clay Holmes, Jorge Polanco and Juan Soto at various points. With the team sitting at 40-54 and 11.5 games out of a playoff spot, the questions looming over Queens are not just about who can fill Vientos’ spot, but what moves the front office will consider by the August 3 trade deadline.
If Vientos’ injury does force a move, it will be among a pool of candidates to fill the vacancy on the roster. He has slumped to a .211 batting average, a sharp drop from his 27-homer breakout of 2024. Yet, he has shown a particular strength against left-handed pitching, hitting .281 with a .539 slugging percentage against lefties. The Mets have several 40-man options to consider, including Ronny Mauricio, MJ Melendez and Nick Morabito. Mauricio was optioned recently when Polanco returned, illustrating how the team has been juggling its roster as injuries mount. Normally, players must wait 10 days after being optioned to return, but an injury grant provides an exception, which could play a role in how New York proceeds with Vientos’ replacement.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY and reflects the latest updates surrounding Mark Vientos’ injury and the Mets’ ongoing season.