Amazin’ silver lining: Carrasco has more time to recover from injury
WASHINGTON — A key piece of the Mets rotation is on the fast track in his continued rehab. Carlos Carrasco, who tore his right hamstring in mid-March, has “advanced really, really well,” Luis Rojas said on Friday.
Carrasco, 34, stayed behind in Port St. Lucie when the team broke spring camp and traveled here on Monday. He has since thrown a couple of bullpen sessions, per Rojas, and recently faced live batters. Carrasco threw one inning — about 15 pitches — in that encouraging step forward.
“He’s moved really well,” the Mets manager said. “We’re still in the week-to-week approach because he’s got to do other things, like push off the mound, go field his position, do things like that. That’s why they’re taking that approach, making sure that he can go progressively at the pace that they want and see how (the hamstring) keeps responding.”
Carrasco said he heard his right hamstring “pop” while conditioning and doing sprints following a routine live batting practice last month. The injury was described by the team as a Grade 1 strain, or tear, of his hamstring, which occurred while he was on his way back from an elbow soreness injury.
It was a huge blow to the Mets rotation. The team had expected Carrasco to slot into the No. 2 or 3 hole behind Jacob deGrom. In light of his injury, the Mets added lefty Joey Lucchesi to the rotation as the fifth starter. Due to this weekend’s series against the Nationals being postponed after at least three Nats players tested positive for COVID, the Mets won’t need a fifth starter until April 14.
Rojas said the timeline for Carrasco to return to the Mets has not necessarily changed despite the encouraging status of his injury. If the right hander continues progressing with minimal to no setbacks, he could join the team as early as May.
VACCINES FOR METS?
Major League Baseball sent out a memo to all clubs earlier this week incentivizing players to receive COVID-19 vaccines when eligible. It’s not a requirement, but the league will relax a number of protocols for an organization when 85% of its major-league players and primary field staff, considered Tier 1, are vaccinated. The Cardinals crossed that 85% threshold on Wednesday.
For the Mets, everyone in the organization will be eligible to receive shots on Tuesday after New York State announced anyone aged 16+ will have the clearance to schedule and receive vaccines beginning April 6.
The team sent out a private survey to players over the past couple of days for a headcount of how many players and staff members want to receive the vaccine. Rojas said he was not aware of the results of that survey, and it was unclear how many Mets will sign up to get the shot.
“We’re a pretty close-knit group of guys,” J.D. Davis said. “I know a lot of guys aren’t really getting the itch to really go out and mingle or I would say outdoor dining... go to bars or go to restaurants and have that kind of normal lifestyle.”
Davis was asked if he’s OK with sharing his plan for getting vaccinated, or not.
“I really don’t know,” he said. “I haven’t even thought about it. I’ve been so focused on baseball and getting ready for the season, I’ve been concentrated on getting at-bats, getting my swing right, getting ready for defense... It’s a personal preference for me. It hasn’t really crossed my mind.
“(I’m) trying to be sensitive to the family and friends and especially to the loved ones that have been passed and taken by the virus, but at the same time, I know it’s a personal preference and everybody has their own choice of doing so.”