PORT ST. LUCIE — Bobby Parnell has six weeks to get into a closer’s mindset, if needed. For that he is thankful manager Terry Collins already has decided Parnell will be the Mets’ closer if Frank Francisco can’t be ready for Opening Day.
“Him just coming out and saying it is going to help me a lot get better in the future,” Parnell said Wednesday. “Sometimes it’s kind of wishy-washy, and coming out and saying it bluntly helps a lot.”
Parnell served as the Mets’ closer for five weeks in the middle of last season with Francisco on the disabled list and again in September, finishing with seven saves in 12 opportunities.
“Maybe I put a little more pressure on myself in the past [as closer], but I can’t do that now,” Parnell said. “It is the last line of defense, but you can’t think about it like that. If you do, you’ve already lost the battle and that’s what I’ve been learning.”
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Francisco, who still has elbow inflammation following December surgery to remove bone spurs, probably won’t throw for at least two weeks. The right-hander’s offseason rehab was delayed, according to general manager Sandy Alderson, because of personal issues that included a death in the family.
* Jenrry Mejia’s visa has been withheld in the Dominican Republic for an age and identity review.
Alderson said he believes it was just a random review, but MLB officials are now handling the investigation for the consulate and trying to expedite the situation so Mejia can report to camp.
The right-hander has been working out at the Mets’ academy in the Dominican Republic so he doesn’t fall behind in workouts.
* Alderson said the Mets would have the final call on whether Johan Santana can represent Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.
But WBC officials must first agree to insure the $31 million remaining on Santana’s contract before the Mets have to decide. The fact Santana was shut down near the end of last season has the Mets hesitant to approve.
“There are reasons why players in his situation at the end of the season typically don’t play in the WBC,” Alderson said. “So we’ll have to take a hard look at it.”