Nimmo has heart test, forced to sit
PORT ST. LUCIE — Brandon Nimmo was scratched from Wednesday’s lineup against the Astros for curious reasons that the Mets were mostly vague about.
A statement was released during the game, saying the team cardiologist suggested additional cardiac screening for Nimmo. The Mets jumped on the opportunity to make an appointment for Nimmo so he could complete that test on Wednesday.
The outfielder was scheduled to start in center field and bat second in the Mets’ 4-2 loss to Houston. Instead, non-roster invite
Ryan Cordell took his position in the outfield.
Nimmo did not return from testing in time to speak to reporters at Clover Park.
Manager Luis Rojas said the testing was “precautionary” and it’s something the team wanted to complete early in spring training instead of it being an issue later in the regular season.
“I know it’s something not to be overly concerned,” Rojas said.
The skipper said the recommendation from the team cardiologist arrived on Wednesday. He first heard about the need for additional testing moments before first pitch, which is when Rojas pulled Nimmo out of the lineup. Rojas was not sure whether the recommendation for additional cardiac screening derived as a follow-up from Nimmo’s physical earlier this month.
Nimmo was sidelined for the majority of the 2019 season with a bulging cervical disc in his neck, but he has since fully recovered from that injury and has played in two Grapefruit League games so far.
Tebow to play for Philippines
Tim Tebow has accepted an invitation to represent his native Philippines in the upcoming World Baseball Classic Qualifiers.
The Mets minor-league outfielder was born in Makati, Philippines while his parents were both missionaries. He will attempt to lead Team Philippines to its first WBC tournament appearance in the country’s history. The team has gone 1-4 in its two previous stints for world qualifiers.
The qualifying round of the 2021 WBC will take place between March 12-25 in Tucson, Arizona.
Tebow is set to enter his fourth season playing professional baseball for the Mets. The former NFL quarterback — who won the Heisman Trophy as the top player in college football in 2007 and was named SEC Player of the Year in ‘08 and ’09 — is still looking to break into the major leagues.
The 32-year-old two-sport athlete slashed .163/.240/.255 over 77 games in his first season at Triple-A Syracuse in 2019. Tebow is two years removed from his best minorleague season — when he made the Double-A All-Star team in 2018 — and hit .273/ .336/.399 with six homers, 36 RBI and a .734 OPS over 84 games.