One Mets outfielder’s progress has slowed, while another prospective Mets outfielder is returning to the field.
Starling Marte’s latest MRI exam showed “improvement,” manager Carlos Mendoza said, but not enough to allow the 35-year-old to resume baseball activities.
Marte, who has been sidelined with a right knee bone bruise for nearly three weeks, underwent follow-up exams Wednesday that showed the bone bruise is healing.
Marte, though, still feels pain.
“He’s still feeling it with some of the activities he’s doing,” Mendoza said before the Mets finished a series with the Nationals at Citi Field on Thursday. “As long as we get the pain out of there, he should ramp up pretty quick after that.”
Mendoza had said on June 25 that Marte would not perform any baseball activities for two weeks. Sixteen days later, Marte had not gotten the green light.
The original, hopeful timeline involved a possible return in four weeks time. Marte, who had posted a .745 OPS in his first 66 games this season, will need longer than that.
The development was better on Drew Gilbert. The Mets’ No. 3 overall prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, began a rehab assignment with the Florida Coast League Mets on Thursday, when he was batting second and playing center field.
Gilbert, part of the return in the Justin Verlander trade last season, opened his year at Triple-A Syracuse but played just seven games before straining his hamstring.
“Especially with how much time he has missed, I think it’s important for him to get on the field and get some game reps,” Mendoza said of Gilbert, who had not played since April 6. “We know how important he is and for his development for him to finally get on the field — I know it’s been a long road for him.”
The Mets were still awaiting word on Reed Garrett, who was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
The righty complained about his elbow/forearm, which prompted exams.
“We got multiple doctors taking a look at them before we come to a conclusion here,” Mendoza said. “Hopefully by the end of the day, we’ll have something here.”
Kodai Senga (shoulder, triceps) is expected to make his third minor league rehab start Sunday, with Triple-A Syracuse, Mendoza said.
For the first time, the righty will be going on four days rest instead of five days, pushed forward because the minor league season takes a break beginning Monday as the MLB season does.
Mendoza said the hope will be for Senga to throw 60-65 pitches and go four innings.
“He’s getting close,” Mendoza said. “But again, we still have to go day by day, outing by outing and see how he is going to respond after every time he pitches.”