The New York Mets pulled Jorge Polanco from his minor league rehab assignment Saturday for additional ankle testing after the infielder reported soreness. Polanco initially landed on the injured list April 15 with a right wrist contusion and left Achilles bursitis, and the team opted to evaluate his ankle in New York rather than continue his progression with Triple-A Syracuse.

The 32-year-old switch-hitter signed a $40 million contract this offseason to replace Pete Alonso at first base, but injuries have limited him to just 14 games with the Mets. He's batting .179 with one home run and two RBIs, falling well short of expectations for a player acquired to anchor the lineup.

This marks Polanco's seventh injured list stint since 2022, raising serious concerns about his durability and the Mets' roster planning. The club now faces a difficult decision about their investment while trying to maintain competitiveness in the NL East race.

Polanco's uncertain timeline leaves a significant hole in New York's infield plans, forcing the Mets to consider alternative options at first base as they assess whether their expensive offseason addition can contribute meaningfully this season.