JUPITER, Fla. — The Mets are finally ready to get an eyeful of Francisco Rodriguez.
The All-Star closer returned to camp yesterday after an eight-day absence while battling pinkeye. Rodriguez is continuing to use eyedrops, but said the infection is finally behind him.
Rodriguez said he’ll likely only need one side session to prepare for his first spring appearance.
How did Rodriguez stay loose while quarantined from teammates? “I played catch in the driveway with my brother,” he said.
It didn’t come without a price — Rodriguez’s brother, Edward, now has the infection in both eyes.
“I had it in the left and then the right, but he has it at the same time in both eyes, so it’s very painful,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said he cannot wear contact lenses for a few weeks and will use goggles, as he did with the Angels earlier in his career.
* Jose Reyes was examined yesterday in New York for a possible overactive thyroid, but the Mets do not expect to have results until today or tomorrow. Reyes will not return to camp until receiving the results. The Mets are hopeful he’ll be cleared to resume baseball activities later in the week. He still has not made his Grapefruit League debut this spring.
* Kelvim Escobar has been shut down from throwing as he attempts to recover from shoulder weakness. Escobar was limited to playing catch since his arrival in camp, but will now focus on strengthening his shoulder with rehab coordinator Chris Correnti.
* Ike Davis finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs in the Mets’ 11-2 victory over the Marlins to raise his Grapefruit League average to .588.
It comes while the favorite to start at first base, Daniel Murphy, is struggling. Murphy went 0-for-2 and is batting .083 this spring.
Chris Carter hit two homers as part of an eight-run ninth inning for the Mets. Rod Barajas hit a two-run homer in the sixth.
* Johan Santana’s much-anticipated first start of the spring is scheduled for today against the Astros at Tradition Field. It will be Santana’s first time pitching in a game situation since undergoing surgery last Sept. 1 to remove bone chips from his left elbow.