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The Mets have activated Juan Lagares from the disabled list, and he will be with the team tonight as it begins a three-game series with the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field. Lagares was expected to be out for the remainder of the season, but he appears to be ready to help make the final push toward a postseason run.
Mets manager Terry Collins stated that Lagares will serve as a defensive replacement at first. His value on defense can’t be understated, as he won a Gold Glove Award and a Fielding Bible Award in 2014. His time on the disabled list was due to a thumb injury sustained making an incredible catch.
A fully-healthy Lagares would be a boon to the Mets’ postseason chances. For now, the team is lucky to have him back, even if it’s just for a couple of innings of defense per game. The Mets used Lagares as a defensive replacement often during their playoff run last year.