ATLANTA — J.D. Martinez won’t make his Mets debut this week, and even his next homestand seems in doubt as he’s been dealing with lower back tightness.
The veteran DH, who has been gaining at-bats in the minor leagues after a long spring training session, received a cortisone injection for tightness on Tuesday and will not swing a bat for at least three games, manager Carlos Mendoza said. Until the 5th.
Mendoza said Martinez, 36, has a history of lower back discomfort and wanted to get ahead of the situation by taking the shot.
“This is something he’s been dealing with the last few years and he felt it again,” Mendoza said before the Mets-Braves game at Trust Park. “Look, this guy has almost 80 at-bats in two weeks. I don’t think any position player experiences such rapid growth when they come into spring training.”
Martinez joined the Mets just before the end of spring training on a one-year contract worth $12 million.
He agreed to the Mets giving him a minor league option so he can strengthen for the season.
After playing in two games for Low-A St. Lucie last weekend, he was given two days off due to so-called “general body aches.”
Mendoza said Martinez received a cortisone injection last April for lower back discomfort, which she said was a “game changer” for him.
Martinez appeared in 113 games with the Dodgers last season, posting an .893 OPS and 33 home runs.
Mendoza said that even after Martinez resumes spring practice, he still needs to see at-bats in the minor leagues before he can be in the Mets’ lineup.
Francisco Alvarez was “devastated” and given a day off after Monday’s long game.
Omar Narváez started at catcher for the second time in the past four games.
The Mets traded reliever Michael Tonkin to the Twins for cash consideration.
The right-handed pitcher was drafted by the Mets last week.
Mendoza said Kodai Chiga has been throwing changeups at low intensity in the flats, but has not yet returned to mound sessions.
The right-handed pitcher was forced to start the season on the disabled list due to strain in his right shoulder and is undergoing rehabilitation.
