PORT ST. LUCIE — Even before their first pitch of the Grapefruit League season has been thrown, the Mets have a significant injury concern.
Jon Niese was headed back to New York on Wednesday for an MRI exam after complaining of discomfort in his left triceps. The MRI will be performed Thursday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan.
Niese — the Mets’ likely starting pitcher on Opening Day if healthy — had been shut down from throwing off a mound recently and began long tossing. But after the discomfort in his arm persisted while throwing batting practice this week, the decision was made to send Niese for the MRI.
“The second 20 pitches he just said his arm felt like it was a lot of work, so then the tricep was an issue again. We just want to have him looked at,” manager Terry Collins said.
Said Niese in a text message: “I felt a little fatigue in the shoulder and I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
Niese, 27, missed seven weeks in 2013 with a partially torn rotator cuff, but returned to the Mets in August. The lefty finished 8-8 with a 3.71 ERA in 24 appearances, which included the Opening Day start after Johan Santana underwent season-ending shoulder surgery.
With ace Matt Harvey already expected to miss all of 2014 as he rehabs from Tommy John surgery, the Mets do not want to begin the season without Niese, potentially the only lefty in the rotation — though veteran John Lannan is fighting for a job in camp.
The Mets will play their Grapefruit League opener Friday against the Nationals at Tradition Field.
“Any time you send somebody for an MRI there is going to be a concern until you get the reading back,” Collins said.
According to Collins, the lefty was told to long toss — getting his arm at a higher angle — after experiencing the initial discomfort on Saturday. Niese felt “good” after the long toss, according to the manager, but his arm was lagging while throwing batting practice on Tuesday.
“He just said his arm was dead, so we’re going to have them go look at it,” Collins said.
Niese participated in the team’s bowling outing Sunday night and told a club official his arm felt strong after the event. The official dismissed the idea the bowling could have played a part in aggravating Niese’s condition.
Last year, Niese skipped a start in early June because of tendinitis. Then, pitching on June 20 in Atlanta, he walked off the mound in discomfort after delivering a pitch in the fourth inning. A subsequent MRI exam determined he had a partially torn rotator cuff, and rest was prescribed instead of surgery.
Niese returned to the Mets on Aug. 11 and went 5-2 with a 3.00 ERA over the final two months of the season.
As it stands, Niese slots into a rotation that includes Bartolo Colon, Zack Wheeler and Dillon Gee, with Lannan in a competition that includes Daisuke Matsuzaka and Jenrry Mejia for the fifth spot. If Niese were to start the season on the disabled list, the Mets could look toward a rookie such as Noah Syndergaard or Rafael Montero, but such a scenario is unlikely because of the extra depth in the battle for the fifth rotation spot.