KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Pedro Feliciano still has visions of making the Mets’ roster, but won’t get an immediate opportunity to pitch.
The veteran reliever has been shut down from baseball activities for at least two weeks as further tests are done on Feliciano to evaluate a potential heart ailment.
Feliciano indicated on Saturday he has a “small hole” in the exterior of his heart, but yesterday general manager Sandy Alderson said it’s unclear to doctors if that is the case.
Feliciano will be attached to a portable heart monitor, according to Alderson, as doctors try to reach a diagnosis.
“They don’t know yet,” Feliciano said, when asked if there was a name for his condition. “It’s Feliciano’s Condition. Who knows? I just want to pitch.”
Feliciano said he feels normal physically.
“When I come back I hope I pitch good, surprise everybody and make the team,” Feliciano said.
* Lucas Duda went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts yesterday against the Astros, leaving him hitless in seven at-bats to begin the Grapefruit League season. He has struck out six times.
Manager Terry Collins indicated Duda is having trouble setting his feet in the batter’s box as part of a new approach to “quiet” his motion.
“He’s trying to change his stride a little bit to keep it so there’s not so much movement and he’s just not getting himself in a hitting position right now,” Collins said. “It’s a work in progress right now.”
Duda and hitting coach Dave Hudgens have watched video of hitters such as Joey Votto and Adrian Gonzalez in trying to refine Duda’s swing.
“They are real quiet,” Collins said, referring to Gonzalez’s and Votto’s swings. “But they get their feet down. Today Lucas got caught with his foot not on the ground, where he can get into hitting position.”
* Half of the Mets’ squad remained in Port St. Lucie and defeated principal owner Fred Wilpon’s alma mater, Michigan, 5-2. Wilmer Flores hit a solo homer in the sixth inning for the Mets. The rookie infielder also homered in an intrasquad game on Friday. Jon Niese and Dillon Gee each allowed a run over two innings.
* Jeurys Familia struggled in relief against the Astros, allowing three runs, two of which were earned, on two hits and two walks in the fifth inning. The rookie right-hander is battling veterans LaTroy Hawkins and Scott Atchison, among others, for a spot in the bullpen.