Mets put Mark Vientos on injured list after hand fracture

New York Mets infielder Mark Vientos suffered a fractured right hand after being hit by a pitch during Thursday's game against the Kansas City Royals and will be placed on the injured list, interim manager Andy Green confirmed. The injury occurred in the bottom of the second inning at Citi Field when a fastball from Royals pitcher Michael Wacha ran inside and struck Vientos as he checked his swing.

Vientos was in immediate and obvious discomfort, dropping his bat and falling to the ground before eventually walking to first base with assistance. He was replaced defensively in the top of the third inning. In the reshuffled lineup, Tyrone Taylor entered to play center field, rookie A.J. Ewing moved from center to second base, and Brett Baty shifted from second to third base. Taylor later hit a game-tying home run in a five-run fifth inning that propelled the Mets to a 7-3 victory, securing a series win.

Green did not provide a specific timeline for Vientos's return, but the fracture is expected to sideline him for several weeks. The injury represents another setback in a difficult season for the 26-year-old, who has struggled to replicate his breakout 2024 campaign. That year,...