NO YO AT FIRST — FOR NOW ANYWAY

Forget first base, Mickey Callaway wants Yoenis Cespedes back in his outfield.

The Mets manager confirmed on Thursday that Cespedes is taking ground balls at first during his rehab from a hip flexor strain, but added that he was scheduled to run the bases for the first time since being placed on the disabled list May 14 and hopes to have him return to left field.

“Right now our focus is to get him back to the big leagues as a left fielder and just do some ground balls as he’s in rehab,” Callaway said. “He’s gonna run the bases today, which is a big step. Once you start rounding the bases, you’re getting pretty close to going out on rehab and playing some games.”

Callaway did not rule out the possibility of the oft-injured 32-year-old slugger playing first base in the future, though, and explained they are trying to gauge how long of an adjustment a position switch would take for him.

“He’s definitely taken some ground balls over there just so we can initially evaluate where he’s at and if it’s even an option for this year or is it something that needs to be, if he does it, introduced in the offseason and let him have spring training,” Callaway said. “The initial ground balls are just really trying to make that assessment on: OK, is this something we can actually try to do in season, is it smart to do in season, is it going to put more pressure on his legs? Does he need more time than just some ground balls and a few minor league games if we’re going to attempt this?”