J.D. Martinez not ready to join Mets for series vs. Braves

CINCINNATI — The Mets won’t have J.D. Martinez’s bat in Atlanta.

The player, who officially signed in late spring, became eligible to join the Mets for the first time on Sunday, and there was some hope that he might be able to slip into the lineup for the series against the rival Braves, which starts Monday, but he was not allowed to play as a designated hitter. That would require more time. Get your body and bat into game shape.

Martinez, who joined Low-A St. Lucie on Friday, appeared in two games as a DH and had one hit in eight at-bats, two walks and no strikeouts.

More importantly, coach Carlos Mendoza said Martinez was experiencing “soreness all over his body,” the type of thing “any player would experience” early in spring training. .

The Mets officially signed Martinez on March 23, about two weeks ago, after a lengthy free agency period. Mendoza said there had been “rapid growth” in recent weeks, but the recovery would be much longer.

“He’s going to take a little bit more time, that’s what we’ve been saying,” Mendoza said Sunday before the Mets wrapped up their series against the Reds at Great American Ball Park. “It was fluid. Next week we’ll know what situation we’re in.”

The immediate plan is for Martinez to take the next two days off and get another at-bat on Tuesday. Mendoza wasn’t sure if Martinez would continue to get reps with his team or swing in the backfield at the Mets’ facility.

When asked if the Mets would consider adding Martinez to the team to make him feel comfortable playing at the major league level, Mendoza said: The last thing you want is for something bad to happen by trying to rush him. ”

Without Martinez, the Mets used the DH slot partly to get DJ Stewart at the plate and partly as a way to give the regulars a break. Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Alvarez and Starling Marte (who started at DH on Sunday) have essentially had half a day off on the field.