New York Mets infielder Ronny Mauricio suffered a torn ACL that will require surgery, the team announced on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old suffered the injury during a Dominican Winter League game on Sunday night while on the basepaths. After faking a break from first, he went to stop short but instead, fell to the dirt in discomfort before being helped off the field.
Given the timeline of the injury’s rehabilitation post-surgery, a best-case scenario for Mauricio to return to action would be late September 2024.
It throws an immediate wrench into the Mets’ third-base competition. The club’s No. 4-ranked prospect was expected to battle it out for starting duties at the hot corner with Brett Baty and, potentially, Mark Vientos.
A natural shortstop, Mauricio has had to shuffle his defensive prowess since the Mets acquired Francisco Lindor three years ago. He’s mostly played second base in the minors but has since expanded to third base. The organization also spoke about giving him reps in left field last season.
Mauricio was a September call-up to the majors, appearing in 26 games mostly at second and third base. He hit .248 with a .643 OPS, two home runs, nine RBI, and seven stolen bases while showing an ability to hit the ball at sizzling exit velocities.
His injury and the potential to miss the entire 2024 season likely won’t coax president of baseball operations David Stearns into making a move. During the Winter Meetings in Nashville, he said that he wasn’t looking to add an external third-base option to the young competition that is brewing in Queens, meaning the winner of Baty and Vientos this spring will earn starting duties. The Mets also signed former All-Star utility infielder Joey Wendle to provide depth if necessary.
