DeGrom says ‘ligament is perfectly fine’

MIAMI — Jacob deGrom threw early Thursday afternoon and shagged flies during batting practice. After leaving the field at loanDepot park, the Mets ace spoke to reporters for 19 seconds without taking questions.

The comments were deGrom’s first since team president Sandy Alderson two days earlier said the two-time Cy Young Award winner had healed from a “sprain” or low-grade tear of the ulnar collateral ligament.

“I know what was said and my ligament is perfectly fine,” deGrom said. “I have been throwing, and I wouldn’t be if I had a compromised ligament. That’s the plan to continue to throw and build up and see where we end up.”

That message delivered, deGrom disappeared into the first-base dugout.

DeGrom has been longtossing for the past two weeks and could progress to a mound early-to-mid next week, according to pitching coach Jeremy Hefner.

Alderson has indicated the plan is to build up deGrom to about 75 percent in an attempt to discover if he can pitch without discomfort. DeGrom last pitched on July 7.

➤ Before Noah Syndergaard tested positive for COVID-19, the Mets were targeting this weekend’s Subway Series for the righthander’s return. Syndergaard, who exited quarantine this week, will have to settle for throwing from a mound for the first time since resuming activity. Syndergaard has been playing catch at Citi Field in recent days.

➤ Tomas Nido is expected to begin a rehab assignment for Triple-A Syracuse this weekend. The catcher has missed most of the last month with two separate injured-list stints with a sprained left thumb.

“It’s better and he’s not feeling it much when he makes contact,” manager Luis Rojas said. “Play a couple of games [for Syracuse] and then return to us.”

➤ J.D. Davis started at third base because Rojas liked the swings he took the last time he faced Marlins left-hander Jesus Luzardo. The insertion of Davis into the lineup also provided a chance to get Jonathan Villar a rest. Davis went 0-for-3 with a walk.

“Villar, with all the games that he’s played, it comes in handy with Davis’ matchup with the pitcher,” Rojas said.