Update on Mark Vientos’ Injury Status
LOS ANGELES – Mark Vientos, currently on the injured list, might not be sidelined for too long.
The Mets got some “relatively good news” regarding their third baseman on Wednesday. Manager Carlos Mendoza mentioned that an MRI taken two days earlier indicated the hamstring strain was low in severity.
Mendoza noted that Vientos will undergo treatment for 10 to 14 days until he shows no symptoms, after which he’ll start working towards his return.
The injury occurred when Vientos ran to first base on Monday and felt a pull in his hamstring.
“When you see a guy go down like that, you’re always worried about the worst,” Mendoza said before the Mets faced the Dodgers. “It’s tough seeing him struggle after going through tests and talking to the trainer, but the fact that it’s a low-grade injury is a relief.”
In the meantime, Ronnie Mauricio has been called up from Triple-A Syracuse to fill Vientos’ spot on the roster and started his second consecutive game on Wednesday.
Sean Manaair is set to begin minor league rehab assignments on Friday, intending to throw around 35 pitches for Single-A Brooklyn. He has been dealing with shoulder issues since the spring training.
Brett Baty, who has performed well defensively at third base since his return from Syracuse last month, had two hits with Mauricio starting at third base.
Mendoza said he came to this lineup decision after discussing it with Mauricio, who expressed he felt more at ease on the left side of the infield.
“I mentioned that Mauricio is versatile, but he came in as a shortstop and is definitely more comfortable on the left side for now,” Mendoza remarked.
Mendoza indicated that for the immediate future, he plans to stick with this arrangement, though it’s possible Mauricio could shift from third to second base as needed.
Regarding pitching, Mendoza mentioned that the game situation will dictate how they use Paul Blackburn this week. Blackburn is developing as a starter and is capable of pitching multiple innings, but Mendoza noted that he could also be used in high-pressure situations later in games.
Blackburn recently pitched five scoreless innings as the sixth starter in the rotation.
Additionally, David Wright was seen on the field during batting practice with a group of young players, including his child. Living locally, he took the opportunity to introduce the kids to Francisco Lindor.
