PORT ST. Lucy – AJ Minter wasn't sure when the camp opened if it was ready for the opening day with the Mets, but following the emergence of relief on Monday, he was sure it would happen.
The left-hander allowed Solo Homer to Pablo Reyes, but hit the two in the innings of work with a 6-6 tie with the Yankees at Clover Park.
Minter pitched twice this spring in three days for the first time this year, giving him a green light in Thursday's season opening game in Houston, clearing the hurdles except for some kind of physical setback.
“I was pleased with the way I responded with just one day of rest,” Minter said. “I think I kept throwing strikes today and checked that last box.”
Arrived on a two-year contract worth $22 million, Minter is back from hip surgery last season.
He slowed his build-up this spring to prevent him from overexpanding during rehabilitation.
“My goal was to prepare for the opening day for the entire offseason,” Minter said. “I don't want to enter the season because you don't feel confident, so I think it's literally coming today, the last day of making that decision.”
Final bullpen vacant candidates Max Kranick and Haskar Brazovan each pitched scoreless innings with one strikeout.
Kranick finished the exhibition season with ERA 1.46. Brazovan posted an ERA 1.69.
Both rescuers travelled to Houston with the Mets. There, team officials complete the 26-man roster for opening day.
Brett Baty, Luisangel Acuña and Hayden Senger have not been in the race for work at camp recently, but the three are not said to be on the team as the team's Brass monitors the exemption wire and monitors cuts from other camps.
Baty and Acuña potentially run the squad on two bases, while Senger is trying to stick as a backup catcher.
The Mets attracted 106,027 fans at Grapefruitreug and set a franchise attendance record this spring.
8,088 attendance on Monday was the second highest total in Clover Park history.
The record is 8,175 of the 2015 exhibited game with the Yankees.
