The new signee will be out “for a long time” per Carlos Mendoza
An MRI on Mets utility infielder Nick Madrigal’s left shoulder revealed a fracture, and manager Carlos Mendoza said he would be out “for a long time,” according to Anthony DiComo.
Madrigal dislocated his shoulder attempting a throw from shortstop in the first inning of a split-squad game against the Washington Nationals on Sunday. He left the game after the play, and the results from the MRI were announced earlier this morning.
Mendoza said Madrigal will get a CT scan on his shoulder for a further diagnosis, but this will likely sideline the infielder for several weeks—if not months—giving the Mets a dilemma on the infield.
The Mets signed Madrigal to a split contract in January, hoping he could compete for a role as a backup infielder on the Major League team. It’s now less clear who will fill that role, with camp invitees Luisangel Acuña, Brett Baty, and Jared Young currently on the 40-man roster available to step in immediately.
Madrigal spent his first five seasons in Chicago, first with the White Sox from 2020-21, and then with the Cubs from 2022-24. He’s made 61% of his appearances at second base, with the rest at third base, showing top-of-the-line defensive metrics in 2023 (96th percentile in Outs Above Average and 89th percentile in Fielding Run Value) according to Statcast.
He hasn’t found his hitting stroke after a solid first two offensive seasons with the White Sox, however, registering a 57 wRC+ in 94 plate appearances for the Cubs in 2024.