Mets’ Wright progressing in recovery
All-star in Florida to test sore hamstring
Four weeks after straining his right hamstring, David Wright is ready for the next step in his recovery.
The All-Star third baseman was headed to the New York Mets’ complex in Florida on Thursday. He said he feels fine swinging and fielding, but he’s not running full speed and isn’t ready for rehabilitation games.
After playing through nagging soreness in his hamstring for about a week, the 30-year-old Wright was injured Aug.
NOTES 2 while legging out an infield single. He said the medical staff has told him it’s a six-week injury, which would put him on track to return in mid-September.
A seven-time All-Star, Wright is hitting .309 with 16 home runs and 54 RBIs.
MARINERS — Top prospect Taijuan Walker, a right-handed pitcher, will make his major league debut tonight at Houston, starting against the Astros less than three weeks after turning 21.
Walker was selected in the first round of the 2010 draft. He began the season at Double-A Jackson before being promoted to Triple-A Tacoma, going a combined 9-10 with a 2.93 ERA in 25 starts, with 160 strikeouts in 141 1/3 innings.
YANKEES — Infielder Eduardo Nunez is day to day after an MRI examination on his ailing right knee was negative.
Nunez, 26, twisted the knee Tuesday when he caught his cleat in a seam on Toronto’s artificial turf while covering second base during New York’s 7-1 win.
TWINS — Catcher Joe Mauer has not considered sitting out the rest of the season to let his concussion heal.
Mauer said he’s feeling better, 10 days after he got hit in the facemask with a foul tip. The six-time All-Star acknowledged he’s not concerned about catching again this year, just simply returning to the field sometime in September.
BRAVES — Left fielder Justin Upton left Atlanta’s 3-1 win over Cleveland in the fifth inning after a 92 mph fastball from Indians right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez hit him on his left hand. X-rays were negative, and the team said he is day to day.
INDIANS — Cleveland released right- handed pitcher Brett Myers, who was a bust after signing a one-year, $7 million contract during the offseason.
Myers went 0-3 with an 8.02 ERA in three starts and one relief appearance before going on the disabled list April 20 with a strained tendon in his elbow.
FORMER UMPIRE DIES — Longtime major league umpire Frank Pulli, who used instant replay to make a call nearly a decade before video reviews were allowed, has died. He was 78.
Major League Baseball said Pulli died Wednesday in Palm Harbor, Fla., from complications of Parkinson’s disease.
Pulli umpired in the National League from 1972 to 1999. Early in 1999, Pulli checked replays on a TV camera near the Marlins’ dugout and then overturned his home run call. MLB officials later said Pulli incorrectly used replay.