Bo Bichette's Moving Back to Shortstop and the Mets' Injury Crisis Just Got Worse

The New York Mets are collapsing, and it's not even close anymore. After Ronny Mauricio broke his left thumb on a headfirst slide into first base Saturday night in a 4-3 loss to the Angels, the Mets are scrambling for answers at shortstop. Again. The team with MLB's worst record just lost its replacement for its injured All-Star, and now Bo Bichette is about to shift back to the position he dominated with the Blue Jays.

When It Rains, It Pours in Queens

Mauricio was supposed to be the guy holding down shortstop while Francisco Lindor heals from a serious left-calf strain that is expected to sideline him until at least June. The 25-year-old even hit a go-ahead homer in the seventh inning Friday night to lead the Mets to a comeback road win against Los Angeles. Then Saturday happened. Mauricio will land on the injured list Sunday morning before the Mets finish their three-game series in Anaheim, California. The Mets aren't just dealing with one injury anymore, either. The growing list also includes outfielder Luis Robert Jr., infielder Jorge Polanco, and right-hander Kodai Senga.

Bichette Steps Up, But His Early Season Tells a Story

Manager Carlos Mendoza says Bichette "is pretty sure" to be in the conversation for moving back to his old position. Bichette signed a three-year, $126 million deal in January expecting to play third base behind Lindor. With Toronto from 2019 to 2025, he played 716 of his 748 games at short, so the switch back isn't exactly unfamiliar territory. "Whatever the team needs," Bichette told reporters when asked about the potential move.

But here's the thing: Bichette isn't exactly lighting it up to start 2026. He's hitting .238 through 32 games with two home runs and 14 RBIs. That's a massive drop from last season in Toronto, when he slashed .311 with 18 homers and 94 RBIs. Meanwhile, Mauricio in just 10 games is hitting .219 (7-for-32) with just one extra-base hit, the homer he crushed Friday night. The Mets need both of these guys to figure it out fast, or this season is going to get really ugly in Queens really quick.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.