HOUSTON — Every little thing went in keeping with plan for Paul Blackburn throughout spring coaching. The best-hander, who was acquired on the commerce deadline from the Oakland A’s final summer time to bolster the Mets‘ starting rotation, suffered back-to-back freak injuries in August and September, and hasn’t pitched in something aside from a spring coaching recreation since.
After making it via some difficult begins to complete spring coaching wholesome, the Mets determined to place him within the bullpen to begin the season, with the plan being to then transfer him to the rotation because the sixth man in early April. However the day after his ultimate Grapefruit League begin, he awoke with a sore proper knee.
Not have been issues going in keeping with plan.
“I feel for him,” Mets supervisor Carlos Mendoza mentioned Friday at Daikin Park. “He’s been through some freaky injuries. Some were scary, especially the one that he was dealing with, the back fluid and all that — pretty scary. And then he works so hard in the offseason, he’s having a really good camp, feeling good, and then this pops up after his last start in spring training.”
Fortunately, this harm appears to be minor, however it was nonetheless sufficient to land him on the 15-day injured listing to begin the season. Blackburn departed Houston on Friday to proceed his rehab in New York. On condition that he’s responded properly to a gel injection, he doesn’t assume the rehab course of will take lengthy.
“I feel great,” Blackburn mentioned. “I guess it’s one of those things where they put the gel in and you have to wait seven days to just be able to rotate on it and everything like that. So just kind of waiting for those seven days to be up, then get going.”
Imaging didn’t present any structural harm, just some cartilage that seems to be “pissed off.” Fluid was drained from the knee earlier than the injection. Blackburn is feeling optimistic, which could be a victory of types contemplating the unhealthy luck he’s had since final season.
Blackburn missed practically three months of the season final 12 months earlier than the commerce with a stress fracture in his foot. After the commerce, he made 5 begins with the Mets, with the fifth being disastrous.
Going through the Padres in San Diego in late August, Blackburn gave up 5 earned runs over 2 1/3 innings after which was hit on the hand with a comebacker. The Mets put him on the injured listing to get the swelling down, however then he encountered one other downside together with his again. He wasn’t recovering in between exercises and throwing periods and whereas the again ache wasn’t main, it was unusual.
The prognosis was simply as unusual: a spinal fluid leak in his decrease again. It’s about as unusual of an harm for a baseball participant that you can imagine, and usually solely seen when a collision is concerned.
Blackburn missed the postseason and underwent surgical procedure to restore the leak in November.
The Mets had their doubts, however Blackburn was forward of schedule on his rehab and assured that he can be prepared to begin the season. However then he awoke with an offended knee on Sunday.
Whereas there’s an comprehensible quantity of frustration, Blackburn looks like he dodged a bullet. The harm might have been worse, and if he’s in a position to return after his 15 days are up, that might have him becoming a member of the Mets for his or her journey to face his outdated group of their new Sacramento digs.
He must be cleared to begin throwing Monday, and gained’t want a number of time to construct again up his arm and his pitch rely.
BIG LEAGUE BATY
Brett Baty received his first huge league begin at second base on Friday towards the Astros. The transition from second to 3rd began final season in Triple-A, and Baty labored with an infield coach within the offseason. Whereas he got here into camp comparatively inexperienced at second base, the Mets noticed robust progress the extra he performed the place.
Speaking with different infielders, protecting the proper base in particular conditions, getting the ball out of his glove in time to complete double performs and throwing from totally different angles have been all areas the place the Mets noticed enchancment.
Now, it’s about getting used to a quicker recreation.
“That’s part of it — your ability to slow the game down, to your ability to move on to the next play,” Mendoza mentioned. “The game is going to be fast and I think it starts with the preparation, and starts with the anticipation of knowing what to do with the baseball before the plays happen. That’s what good infielders do, and especially when you’re playing up middle.”
SPROAT WINS SPRING AWARD
Proper-hander Brandon Sproat was named the John J. Murphy Award winner as the highest Mets rookie in spring coaching. The Mets’ high pitching prospect, who was drafted in 2023 out of the College of Florida, Sproat began two Grapefruit League video games and allowed solely two earned runs on 4 hits, with one stroll and three strikeouts.
