PHOENIX — Ronny Mauricio is lastly again to enjoying baseball.
It’s been an extended highway again for the Mets infield prospect since struggling an ACL tear in his proper knee whereas enjoying in a winter league recreation in his native Dominican Republic in December 2023. Mauricio then wanted surgical procedures in January and August of 2024, one to restore the ligament and one to take away scar tissue, which sidelined him for all of final season, and restricted him considerably in spring coaching.
The Mets lately despatched the 24-year-old on a rehab task with Low-A St. Lucie, and can ship him to Double-A Binghamton on Wednesday to proceed. Mauricio is anticipated to be within the lineup for the Rumble Ponies on Friday, after they host Studying.
It’s constructive progress for a participant who performed loads of baseball for just a few years after which was instantly compelled to take a seat for greater than a 12 months.
“Feeling good, playing defense, moving well, getting at bats,” supervisor Carlos Mendoza mentioned Tuesday at Chase Subject. “That’s good to see.”
As soon as one of many high prospects within the Mets’ system that has had success producing infielders, Mauricio performed winter ball after his 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons concluded. Whereas it’s not unusual for 20-year-old gamers to play winter ball in between minor league seasons, the Mets grew involved with the quantity of video games Mauricio was enjoying.
Mauricio solely performed 25 video games for Tigres del Licey throughout the 2021-22 offseason, however then the shortstop went on to play 123 video games for Double-A Binghamton in 2022 and virtually instantly went to the Dominican to play for Licey once more. This time, he performed 46 video games, then went into spring coaching and the minor league season in 2023.
The Mets moved him to second base whereas with Triple-A Syracuse in 2023 and referred to as him up in September, utilizing him at second base, third base and shortstop for 26 video games. Once more, he needed to play within the Dominican Winter League after the season. Needing extra reps at third base, the Mets agreed to permit him to play, however didn’t need him enjoying the complete schedule. In his eighth recreation, he was injured.
Mauricio might be nonetheless blocked on the massive league degree, so after his 20 days of rehab are up, it’s seemingly the Mets choice him to Triple-A. However Mauricio appears headed again to the large leagues in some unspecified time in the future or one other this season.
“We’ll have a decision there,” Mendoza mentioned. “So we’ll see. Got to get there first, right? Hopefully he continues to feel the way he’s feeling, and then we’ll see what we’ve got.”
Proper-hander Frankie Montas (lat pressure) threw his third bullpen Tuesday. It’s a sluggish development, however it’s progress nonetheless.
Left-hander Sean Manaea lately began enjoying catch from 150 ft.
Brett Baty wasn’t within the lineup Tuesday, however the massive toe that gave him points for just a few days with Triple-A Syracuse shouldn’t be anticipated to be a problem transferring ahead.
TYRONE’S TRIPLES
The Mets are tied with the Chicago Cubs and the Colorado Rockies with 9 triples this season. Outfielder Tyrone Taylor has hit three of these.
An elite defender, Taylor hasn’t all the time been elite on the offensive aspect of the ball, however he’ll nonetheless hit sufficient to contribute. However he’s harmful when he hits due to the best way he’s in a position to make use of his legs. A robust baserunner, Taylor doesn’t hesitate to take an additional base, which places extra stress on opposing defenses.
All of the sudden, the hits are coming for Taylor. Over his final eight video games, he’s 12-for-22 (.545) with three doubles, a triple and a house run.
“The defense is elite anywhere you put him in the outfield, and now he’s giving us some really good at-bats,” Mendoza mentioned. “I feel like he’s more athletic now. He’s not missing pitches, he’s hitting line drives all over the field.”
Taylor is getting loads of at-bats proper now as a result of he’s producing, and in addition since Jose Siri is out with a left tibia fracture. Jose Azocar and Jeff McNeil have frolicked in middle area, however it’s powerful for the Mets to take Taylor’s bat out of the lineup proper now. Mendoza expects to offer him some days off quickly to maintain him wholesome.
ALONSO ON IT
Pete Alonso has reached base in 17 straight video games amassing the second-longest streak of his profession. As a rookie in 2019, Alonso reached base safely in 34 straight video games between Aug. 2-Sept. 9.
