ANAHEIM, Calif. — Starling Marte is preparing to leave the Mets after Sunday’s game against the Angels and is expected to play in a minor league rehab game at some point next week.
The Mets outfielder reported to Port St. Lucie on Monday and indicated he will remain there to begin his first series of rehab games at a date to be determined next week.
Manager Carlos Mendoza said Marte must first prove he can run the bases before returning to action.
Marte got a hit in the outfield on Friday, two weeks after returning to baseball activities after going on the disabled list on June 25 with a bone bruise in his right knee.
In Marte’s absence, the Mets have primarily used the right field duo of Jeff McNeil and Tyrone Taylor.
New addition Jesse Winker has also started at the position recently.
Marte has struggled defensively this season, but he has been a great addition to the lineup offensively.
He played in 66 games with a batting average of .278, on-base percentage of .328, slugging percentage of .416, 7 home runs, 30 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases.
The team announced that Ronny Mauricio underwent arthroscopic surgery this week to remove scar tissue from his right knee.
Until now, there had been a ray of hope (but team officials were not counting on it) that Mauricio would return in September after undergoing surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.
The Mets say Mauricio will still be ready to practice this offseason.
Tyler Megill pitched well in his Mets debut, a 5-1 win over the Angels on Friday, and has been optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to make room on the roster for pitcher Paul Blackburn, who was acquired from Oakland three days earlier.
Megill pitched two innings in relief on Wednesday but is expected to remain in Syracuse’s starting rotation.
“He’s just got to continue to develop some of the things he’s done well here and some of the pitches he’s worked on,” Mendoza said.
Sean Reed-Foley pitched in a rehab game for Double-A Binghamton on Friday.
Reid Garrett is scheduled to pitch Saturday at Binghamton.
Team owner Steve Cohen was in Southern California for the series and spoke with president of baseball operations David Stearns before the game.
The Mets’ 49 road games were tied for fewest in the major leagues.
After playing 10 games on this trip, the team is scheduled to embark on a nine-game trip against the Padres, Diamondbacks and White Sox in late August.
