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All Star J.D. Martinez’s debut with the New York Mets can be delayed because the veteran continues to ramp up bodily after signing late in spring coaching, supervisor Carlos Mendoza stated Sunday.
CINCINNATI: All Star J.D. Martinez’s debut with the New York Mets can be delayed because the veteran continues to ramp up bodily after signing late in spring coaching, supervisor Carlos Mendoza stated Sunday.
“We’re not going to see him in a while,” Mendoza stated. “He’s going to stay down in Port St. Lucie and get more at-bats. He’s feeling it. We knew he was going to need a lot of time. Not only with the timing and the mechanics, but overall with his body.”
Mendoza stated Martinez will take a pair days off earlier than enjoying once more, almost certainly on Tuesday.
The 36-year-old Martinez finalized a $12 million, one-year contract with the Mets on March 24. He stayed in Florida at the beginning of the season for conditioning and went 1 for 8 with a stroll in two video games this previous weekend at Single-A Port St. Lucie.
In 113 video games final season with the Dodgers, Martinez hit .271 with 33 dwelling runs and 103 RBIs. He might present a lift for a Mets’ offense that has sputtered this season.
The 33 dwelling runs have been his most since 2019, and his OPS of .893 represented his highest since that yr.
Mendoza stated Martinez might get some reps within the outfield sooner or later this season, however for now he’ll stay a delegated hitter.
Martinez had hoped he would want solely 15 days to be prepared to hitch the Mets.
Mendoza likened Martinez’s bodily situation to what place gamers expertise within the second week of spring coaching.
“We’ll be flexible and we’ll listen to him,” Mendoza stated. “It’s him telling us how he’s responding. It’s just fluid between the two sides. That’s the fine line we’re dealing with here. The last thing you want to do is rush him.”
Mendoza bought a $2.5 million signing bonus, $2 million this yr and $7.5 million in deferred cash, payable in $1.5 million installments every Jan. 15 from 2034-38.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
