The Mets announced that infielder Jorge Polanco has been placed on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to April 15) due to a right wrist contusion. Catcher Hayden Senger was called up from Triple-A in the corresponding move, and Senger is already on New York’s 40-man roster.
The wrist issue is a new injury for Polanco, who has been bothered by left Achilles soreness for most of the season. Polanco hasn’t played since Tuesdya, and Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told the New York Post’s Mike Puma and other reporters that Polanco underwent an MRI on Thursday. The results of that MRI weren’t yet known yesterday, though the fact that Polanco’s IL placement is officially termed as just a contusion probably indicates that the MRI didn’t reveal any structural damage.
It could be that between Polanco’s wrist and Achilles problems, the Mets decided it was simply time to give the veteran a full recuperation period, as well as basically a reset to his 2026 season. After signing a two-year, $40MM free agent deal this past winter, Polanco has hit only .179/.246/.286 over his first 61 plate appearances in a Mets uniform. The Amazins’ plan was to use Polanco primarily as a first baseman, but he has played only two games in the field and the rest at DH due to his Achilles discomfort.
Polanco is far from the only struggling Mets player, as Friday’s 12-4 loss to the Cubs extended New York’s losing streak to nine games. Francisco Alvarez and (to a lesser extent) Luis Robert Jr. are the only Mets regulars hitting well in the early going, as Juan Soto‘s hot start was cut short by an IL stint due to a calf strain.
The lack of offense could be why the Mets called up Senger, even though Alvarez and Luis Torrens are already on hand as the catching core. Having a third catcher allows Alvarez to remain in the lineup on an everyday basis as either the catcher or the DH, and plus Senger is himself hitting .257/.316/.714 with five homers in only 38 PA for Triple-A Syracuse.
Even with this huge power surge, Senger’s career Triple-A slash line is still a modest .238/.295/.397 over 408 PA with Syracuse. The 29-year-old made his Major League debut in 2025, and hit .181/.221/.194 in 78 PA over 33 games with the Mets.