Yoenis Cespedes Injury: Updates on Mets Star's Knee and Return

New York Mets star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes exited Sunday's World Series game against the Kansas City Royals after suffering a knee injury.

Continue for updates.

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Juan Lagares Replaces Cespedes

Sunday, Nov. 1

Cespedes left Sunday's Game 5 in the sixth inning after he hit a foul ball off his knee. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports noted "Cespedes now has [an] ailing knee to go along with shoulder," while Scott Miller of Bleacher Report described the scene:

Cespedes stayed in the game to finish his at-bat and popped out with the bases loaded. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports added the injury was to the outfielder's kneecap, and he underwent an X-ray after he left the game.

Cespedes played his best season to date in 2015, reaching career-best totals of 35 home runs and 105 RBI while posting a .290 batting average. Combine that with his incredible arm in the outfield, and Cespedes has all the makings of a franchise cornerstone.

In the Mets' closeout Game 4 against the Chicago Cubs in the National League Championship Series, Cespedes was dealing with a sore left shoulder. Even though he left that contest, New York managed to dominate in an 8-3 win at Wrigley Field and clinch a berth in the World Series, proving it can overcome Cespedes' absence at a critical time.

The Mets have such a stacked pitching rotation that they don't need the type of run support another staff might. As important as Cespedes is to New York's lineup and defense, the club can survive without him as it attempts to climb back from a 3-1 World Series deficit.