The Mets might be starting the season banged up, but the club had the entire team at Citi Field on Friday afternoon for the home opener, even those who have been rehabbing in Florida.
Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, Jeff McNeil, Francisco Alvarez, Christian Scott, Paul Blackburn and Drew Smith were all in attendance for the late-week matchup against the Toronto Blue Jays, with the Mets wanting to include the entire team in the festivities.
Manager Carlos Mendoza updated the statuses of Alvarez, McNeil and Blackburn, indicating they are all moving in positive directions.
Alvarez caught Kodai Senga’s bullpen before the game, which is a step beyond catching with the softer ball he was using earlier this week. The backstop had hamate bone surgery March 10, and is aiming to return later in the month. Luis Torrens has been doing a fantastic job in his place, hitting .313 and having caught three of four runners trying to steal bases, as well as having made tough defensive plays at the plate. Hayden Senger has also worked well with the pitching staff.
However, Senga has only thrown to Torrens in a game once, and has a strong relationship with Alvarez. He cited some adjustments that needed to be made with Torrens after his last start in Miami over the weekend.
McNeil (oblique strain) has been hitting off the pitching machine this week, and was scheduled to take batting practice in the cages Friday. Brett Baty and Luisangel Acuña have been playing second base in his place, but have both struggled at the plate. Baty has only one hit to start the season and Acuña has two, including a double.
Blackburn is scheduled to throw a bullpen Saturday at Citi Field. He’s hoping to be activated for the next road trip next week, which begins Friday in Sacramento against the A’s. The right-hander previously spent his entire career with the A’s in Oakland before being traded to the Mets last summer.
Manaea (right oblique strain) is still shut down from throwing after his PRP injection, while Montas (right lat strain) is throwing from 60 feet.
Smith will continue his rehab from Tommy John surgery in New York while making periodic trips to Port St. Lucie. Having rehabbed from his first UCL reconstruction surgery in Florida, the right-hander now prefers to be around the team when injured and is comfortable with the training staff in New York.
Scott, a Florida native, will do his UCL rehab primarily in Port St. Lucie, which allows him to be close to his family in the Fort Lauderdale area.
Mendoza had a meeting with the team before the day began, reminding them to enjoy the events and to take a moment to appreciate the position they are in as big leaguers in front of their home fans.
“I think this is something that you could never take for granted,” Mendoza said. “It’s a privilege to wear a big league uniform, and in our case, to put on the Mets uniform means a lot. It means something. So whether [home opener] is No. 15 or it’s your first one, I told them in Houston, it’s a privilege, and to make sure that they enjoy it.”
