Mets’ Juan Lagares will have thumb surgery, miss six weeks

Mets outfielder Juan Lagares will have thumb surgery and miss at least six weeks.

Mets outfielder Juan Lagares will have thumb surgery and miss at least six weeks, Mets manager Terry Collins told reporters Friday.

Lagares has a partially torn ligament in his left thumb, which he originally injured on June 4 making a diving catch. He tried to play through it and spent time on the disabled list, returning July 2 but continuing to deal with the injury. The Mets had hoped to delay the procedure until the off-season, ESPN reports.

The 27-year-old Lagares is hitting .243 with three home runs this season, but has handled centerfield as the Mets attempted to keep Yoenis Cespedes in left as he deals with an ongoing right quad issue.

New York recalled outfielder Brandon Nimmo from Triple A in a corresponding move. Nimmo hit .235 in his first 16 major league games, and was sent down earlier this month.