Syndergaard clocks 96 on radar gun

PORT ST. LUCIE — Noah Syndergaard threw a side session Thursday that resonated louder than most of his this spring.

Part of it was the setting — he threw on Clover Park’s main field — but also a radar reading the Mets received indicating he reached 96 mph with his fastball.

“Felt great,” Syndergaard told The Post.

The right-hander is on the 60-day injured list as he continues his rehab from Tommy John surgery, with the Mets projecting he will return by June. Manager Luis Rojas pointed out that Syndergaard is not 100 percent yet, as he approaches the one-year anniversary of his surgery last March 27.

“I just got a really good report, and he’s in a good place,” Rojas said. “He’s such a hard worker. He’s done a fine job to get where he is today and he’s following the program.”

➤ Dominic Smith remained absent from game action, a day after he was scratched from the lineup with right wrist soreness. He has continued to participate in defensive drills.

“He is doing his work defensively, which is something we prioritize as well,” Rojas said. “Especially in left field, which is the new position skill for him, even though he has played it for a couple of years now at times, so we are still working with him hard.”

Rojas is hopeful Smith might begin taking at-bats again Saturday, when the Mets hold a workout.

➤ Edwin Diaz allowed his first base runners of the spring — the Nationals got two hits against him in the eighth inning — but escaped with a scoreless frame, his fourth straight this spring.

Dating to last season Diaz has not allowed a run in 15 of 16 appearances.

“I feel confident when I am out there on the mound — I feel I can do whatever I want, I feel I am the best pitcher out there,” Diaz said after the Mets’ 3-1 loss. “All that plays a part into it, but it’s really the consistency so I can have those sharp pitches and have trust in those pitches.”

➤ Marcus Stroman was sharp over five innings, allowing one run on two hits with six strikeouts. Kyle Schwarber’s homer in the second inning accounted for the only run against him.