Cespedes could return next week
A return for Yoenis Cespedes is on the horizon, and it could come as soon as next weekend against none other than the Yankees.
With the Subway Series taking place next weekend at Yankee Stadium, Mickey Callaway said Saturday that Cespedes could be an option as the designated hitter in the American League park. Cespedes has not played since May 13 because of a right hip flexor injury.
“That’s a consideration. DH at-bats, we don’t get a ton of them and I think you have to take advantage of those when you get them, so that’s definitely something that we have to keep in mind,” Callaway said.
After running the bases at around 90 percent, Cespedes was set to be evaluated Saturday to determine whether Cespedes can advance to something “more strenuous,” whether it’s a simulated game or a rehab assignment.
“I think as we’ve talked about in the past, you have to rely on the player a little bit in these instances,” Callaway said. “Just the eye test, get our baseball people to get an eye on him whenever he starts in-game activities to see the timing, all those things that might keep him from doing well in the big leagues. Then you talk to the player: How are you feeling? Do you feel confident that you can come up and hit a major-league pitcher and lay off a real nasty slider?”
Should Cespedes go on a rehab assignment, he would play left field. COUNTING ON JOSE
Entering Saturday, Jose Bautista had a .242 batting average, .395 on-base percentage and .450 slugging percentage in 152 plate appearances since joining the Mets. Callaway said it was difficult to say whether the 37-year-old has surpassed expectations because of his track record.
“You always think they have it in them, which is one of the reasons we got him,” Callaway said of Bautista, who was in right field Saturday against Washington after starting the previous two games at third base. “He takes care of himself; he’s in a really good spot physically; he’s always in a good spot mentally or he wouldn’t have had the career he’s had.
"So you can’t ever count those type of guys out, and I think he’s done a great job with coming in here, putting himself in a position to succeed by — he wasn’t playing much when he first got here, and he grinded it out. He wasn’t worried about his playing time. Just kept on working every day and when he got the opportunity he kind of seized it, and he’s reaping the benefits and so are we.” REHAB SCARE FOR RIVERA
T.J. Rivera, who is on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas while recovering from Tommy John surgery, left Friday’s game after five innings with discomfort in his right arm. Callaway said Rivera was going to be reevaluated Saturday and that it was the first time Rivera felt something other than the normal soreness that comes with rehabbing . ... Jason Vargas (calf ) was scheduled for another rehab start Saturday night with the Brooklyn Cyclones.