PORT ST. LUCIE — A.J. Minter is on monitor to be prepared for Opening Day and forward of schedule together with his spring development. However finally, he is aware of the choice isn’t his to make. It’s as much as the Mets’ trainers, medical doctors and his surgically-repaired left hip.
The left-handed reliever took a key step towards a return from the harm Sunday when he threw a stay bullpen session for the primary time this spring. Minter will throw to hitters at the least another time earlier than showing in a Grapefruit League sport.
“Physically, I felt good. I guess that’s all I can really ask for,” Minter stated Sunday at Clover park. “And I guess, obviously, I threw a lot of strikes. I think I threw too many strikes. I wish I had gotten a [few] more swings, but this is the competitor to me. I wish I would have gone out there and struck everyone out, but being the first time facing hitters since, you know, August 1, or August 2, I was happy with it. Check the box today onto the next one.”
Minter threw roughly 20-25 pitches, with hitters swinging typically and early. The 31-year-old missed a number of spots and gave up a number of hard-hit balls, however he additionally received a number of weak floor balls and among the swings and misses he was in search of.
Nevertheless, he was capable of belief his physique with out hesitation, which was a optimistic step contemplating this was one thing he observed was difficult when he began enjoying catch once more after surgical procedure. Now that he’s capable of throw with out ache, he’ll must give attention to his mechanical facet earlier than making a return to aggressive motion.
“I’m doing my best to, I think, get in the positions that I want. I think now it’s just the reps,” Minter stated. “Getting the body the reps it needs, the mentally cueing of the mechanics and syncing everything up. I think the timing is off more than anything. But physically, I feel great. I think it’s just more of the mechanics. And syncing everything up is where I think I can improve a little bit more.”
Minter had his left labrum repaired, in addition to a hip impingement and a lesion on his femur eliminated. Mets left-handed starter David Peterson additionally had his left hip labrum repaired within the fall of 2023, and bounced again to have a profession yr in 2024. He’s leaning on Peterson closely for recommendation, asking him how his hip felt at sure factors all through his restoration.
Whereas every thing feels good for the time being, Minter understands that this isn’t the time to overload himself and race to the end line. If he has to begin the season on the injured listing, so be it.
An IL stint earlier within the season is way extra preferable than late within the season throughout a playoff push.
“I want to be ready, as I get older, I’m a little bit wiser,” he stated. “In the past, I’ve rushed through spring trainings and it hurt me during the season. In 2019, I got in a car accident in spring training, got a cortisone shot in my shoulder and rushed back. I missed opening weekend, and I never faced [hitters] and never went on a rehab assignment. I threw two live BPs and rushed back, ended up having a horrible season in 2019, and got sent down…
“I think learning from the past, you have to get your work in. You can’t just rush in and not face live hitters and play games. I mean, it’s a different adrenaline rush at a different pace. So we’re definitely going to be smart.”
Minter signed a two-year, $22 million contract as a free agent with the Mets over the winter. The contract included a signing bonus of $1 million and a participant choice after the 2025 season.
QUICK HITTERS
– Proper-hander Blade Tidwell returned from Port Charlotte on Sunday to Port St. Lucie, the place the Mets pitchers congratulated him on his immaculate inning towards the Tampa Bay Rays. Technically, Tidwell corrected them, it was an immaculate 1 1/3 innings, as he struck out the ultimate 4 of the six batters he confronted, punching every hitter out with solely three pitches.
The 23-year-old stated he was unaware that he had achieved the uncommon feat till he was knowledgeable after the sport, one thing his fellow pitchers discovered incredulous.
– Kodai Senga will make his first Grapefruit League begin Monday towards the Miami Marlins. The best-hander is about to throw one inning, then will end his outing throwing within the bullpen. Peterson will throw in aid in his first Grapefruit League sport of the yr.
– Infielder Luisangel Acuña was out of the lineup towards the Boston Purple Sox in Fort Myers, however nonetheless labored on defensive drills. He was hit close to the elbow with a pitch Saturday, however the Mets nonetheless don’t appear involved about any main harm.
– Paul Blackburn had a troublesome outing towards the Purple Sox, permitting 4 earned runs on three hits and two walks over 1 1/3 innings. The Mets misplaced 6-4.
– Second baseman Jeff McNeil went 2-for-3 with a double. The additional-base knock got here towards right-hander Walker Buehler. Outfielder Jose Siri hit his third dwelling run of spring with a two-out, three-run shot off right-hander Liam Hendriks.
Initially Revealed: March 2, 2025 at 2:27 PM EST
