After pen, next step for deGrom is facing hitters
PORT ST. LUCIE — Jacob deGrom threw a regular bullpen Friday. The right hander threw 20 pitches off the rubber with a catcher crouched behind the plate. DeGrom hoped that would put him on track to be ready for Opening Day, but it is looking unlikely
“Yeah, I felt good. No problems. The next step probably is to face some hitters,” deGrom said Friday. “I think the plan is for Sunday. We’re taking it one day at a time. See how I feel tomorrow and go from there.”
Mickey Callaway said that deGrom will need to throw a live batting practice before getting into a game. The Mets manager reiterated that he wants his starters to get five starts. With a live batting practice on Sunday, deGrom could slot in next week for a start, meaning he’d be stretched out for the first week of the season.
“Going into the season a lot of times you are going to have a day off pretty early, you can always throw a guy last in the rotation and get him an extra start down here when we’re already gone,” Callaway said.
DeGrom wants the Opening Day start, which he deserves, but has said he doesn’t want to push it and risk missing time during the season. Noah Syndergaard, who got last year’s Opening Day nod, would line up for the start this year if deGrom is not ready.
DeGrom had his spring throwing program delayed when he suffered lower back stiffness on Sunday. The Mets ace had just returned from three days of not throwing as he was home for the birth of his second child.
Friday, deGrom threw normally and felt comfortable pitching at full speed.
CESpEdES plAYS ThE fIEld
Yoenis Cespedes is not too far away. The Mets slugger played the field for the first time Friday night in a split-squad game against the Astros in West Palm Beach.
Cespedes, who is nursing a sore shoulder, went 1-for-3 with a ground ball single up the middle and played four innings in left field.
“I felt pretty good, although the shoulder is 100% I think in the next days, I will be ready,” Cespedes said through the team translator.
The 32-year old said that he is going through the normal soreness he gets every spring when he begins to throw hard.
After dedicating himself to a revamped workout this winter that incorporated yoga and more running, Cespedes said that his legs felt fine after playing in the field. Cespedes missed 81 games last season with strains to both his left and right hamstrings.
TEBOW TIME
Tim Tebow broke his 0-for-5 start to spring training with a fourth-inning single against the Nationals Erick Fedde. That came after a three-pitch strikeout against Max Scherzer, which Tebow said was “awesome.”
Tebow said he is feeling much more comfortable in his second spring training, his first in big league camp. He reworked his swing this winter and feels he is seeing pitches better.
GAME nuMBER juAn
Juan Lagares made his spring training game debut after nursing a strained left hamstring for the first week. He was 0-for-1, but ran down balls with ease. He said the leg felt good. … Rafael Montero allowed a run on two hits and a walk in two innings pitched. . … Gavin Cecchini continues to tear up spring training. He hit his second home run and has a team-leading five RBI.