Mets manager Carlos Mendoza provided updates on Jorge Polanco and Juan Soto ahead of the series against the Angels. Polanco is recovering from a right wrist contusion and is expected to return soon.
Key points
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza provided player updates.
Jorge Polanco is recovering from a right wrist contusion.
Polanco was expected to start at first base.
Juan Soto's role in the outfield was discussed.
Mentioned in this story
Carlos MendozaJorge PolancoJuan Soto
Mets
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MetsmanagerCarlos Mendozaspoke ahead of Friday's series opener against the Angels to give updates on certain players...
Heading into the season, Polanco was pegged as the one who would start at first base most games, but that hasn't been the case for some time and now the team is waiting for his return after he went on the IL with a right wrist contusion back in mid-April.
Mendoza offered up some positive news on Polanco as he gets ready to come back.
"Going to take batting practice today. Going to take some groundballs at him," Mendoza said. "That’s a good step now that he can get on the field and start that progression."
Polanco has only appeared in 14 games this season and is slashing .179/.246/.286 with an OPS of .532 to go along with his one home run.
Mendoza was asked about Ibáñez's role on the team after the team called him up to the big league club ahead of Friday's game -- the Mets optioned Eric Wagaman in the corresponding move.
Q&A
What is the latest update on Jorge Polanco's injury status?
Jorge Polanco is recovering from a right wrist contusion and is expected to return soon.
What position was Jorge Polanco expected to play for the Mets?
Jorge Polanco was expected to start at first base for most games at the beginning of the season.
What did Mets manager Carlos Mendoza say about Juan Soto's role in the outfield?
Carlos Mendoza discussed plans for Juan Soto in the outfield, although specific details were not provided in the update.
When did Jorge Polanco go on the injured list?
Jorge Polanco went on the injured list in mid-April due to a right wrist contusion.
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"[Going to use him] Against lefties. He’s done that throughout his career," Mendoza said of Ibáñez. "Can play third base, go to short, second base if I want to give Marcus [Semien] a day. Come off the bench against lefties. He’s going to help us."
The Mets claimed Ibáñez off waivers from the Athletics this week and the right-hander has only appeared in 11 games this season, going 2-for-17 (.118) with three RBI.
In his six-year career, Ibáñez has a career batting average of .252 and an OPS of .688 across 431 games.
As for Minter, the southpaw pitched an inning for Triple-A Syracuse on Friday night. He allowed an unearned run on one hit in an otherwise clean inning. It's Minter's third appearance in Syracuse and seventh minor league outing overall as he continues his rehab from left lat surgery.
Mendoza said it's good news that he hadn't heard anything from the trainers after Minter's night was done. Minter's next step is to pitch Sunday to test if he can pitch two out of three days and then the Mets will decide what's next from there.
Mar 29, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto (22) follows through on an RBI double against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the tenth inning at Citi Field.
Mar 29, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto (22) follows through on an RBI double against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the tenth inning at Citi Field. / Brad Penner - Imagn Images
Juan Soto back in the outfield
Soto is starting Friday's game in left field, the first time the slugger has played the outfield since returning from the IL on April 22. Soto has been strictly a DH and Mendoza mapped out what the initial plan for his star is on this road trip.
"We’re not going to go back-to-back in the outfield," Mendoza said. "Workload and things like that....going to go to Colorado. So maybe a game here, DH the next two, there’s a day game on Sunday. Just day-to-day. But the fact that he’s good to go now from the throwing perspective, he’s in there and we’ll continue to manage that."
Soto went on the IL for a calf strain, but has not played the field because of forearm soreness. Mendoza said that Soto is "good to go" on that front, but the Mets are taking it easy with Soto.
One reason for that is to keep Soto's bat in the lineup. Since he's returned from the lineup, all Soto has done is mash.
He's 9-for-27 since returning to the team, but he's 7-for-14 with two home runs, two doubles and three RBI over his last four games.
"Pretty locked in," Mendoza said of Soto's at-bats. "Talking to someone, when you see him driving the baseball the other way, the way he's been doing it as of late. Keeping balls fair, left field, left center, pulling the ball, staying up the middle, taking his walks. Pretty impressive. Doesn’t matter if it’s a lefty or a righty, he’s just locked in and that's why he's one of the best hitters in the game."
