New York Post

Noah fly zone

Sources: Thor scratched after testing positive for COVID-19

- By MIKE PUMA

Noah Syndergaar­d’s planned rehab start for Single-A Brooklyn on Sunday was scuttled after he tested positive for COVID-19, according to multiple sources.

The Mets initially termed Syndergaar­d’s ailment as a “non-baseball related injury.”

A person who communicat­ed with Syndergaar­d told The Post the pitcher is asymptomat­ic and was thankful for MLB’s protocol for returning players to the big leagues that may have helped prevent him from spreading the virus to teammates. A source indicated the Mets aren’t concerned about an outbreak. The person who communicat­ed with Syndergaar­d said the pitcher will “try [his] best,” to resume his rehab.

Syndergaar­d is vaccinated, according to manager Luis Rojas, who wouldn’t confirm the pitcher has the virus. Rojas said he learned Saturday of Syndergaar­d’s situation.

The Mets have been hopeful Syndergaar­d, who is attempting to return from March 2020 Tommy John surgery, will be a bullpen option next month. He pitched one inning for Brooklyn on Thursday, surrenderi­ng a home run. He had been scheduled to stretch beyond one inning Sunday.

Even if Syndergaar­d returns it won’t be with his full arsenal — he’s been advised medically to refrain from throwing his slider and curveball this season. It leaves Syndergaar­d with a fastball and changeup, what the Mets believe will be a sustainabl­e recipe working for one or two innings.

➤ Tomas Nido was available off the bench, but not to start, because of left thumb soreness, according to Rojas. Patrick Mazeika started a second straight game behind the plate. Nido was removed from the injured list and started Friday, after missing almost two weeks with a sprain in the left thumb.

➤ Josh Reddick opted out from his minor league contract with the Mets and was released. He appeared in 11 games at Triple-A Syracuse.

➤ Rojas plans to start Taijuan Walker and Trevor Williams against the Marlins on Tuesday. The opener of the doublehead­er is the resumption of a game from April that was suspended in the first inning.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States