The clock has started on Carlos Beltran.
The Mets’ All-Star center fielder took one of the most significant steps of his rehab yesterday, playing for the first time in an extended spring training game in Port St. Lucie. Beltran did not play the outfield, and it was not a real minor league game, but the switch-hitter had three at-bats from the left side and three at-bats from the right, going 2-for-6 with a pair of singles as the designated hitter.
“I think it’s fair to start the clock,” manager Jerry Manuel said. “But there has to be an evaluation the day after to see how he feels, to see if he can continue on the same pace or progress he’s still making. Once he starts playing, running the bases. He DH’d, so you still have to put ‘limited,’ but at the same time we’re getting closer to him going in and off the field in the outfield. It’s all positive.
“I think you can start the clock.”
Rest assured, however, that Beltran, who had right knee surgery in January, is not close to returning. He has not been cleared for all baseball activities, and did not run the bases all-out or play the field in the rehab game.
General manager Omar Minaya has said that once Beltran is cleared for all baseball activity, he will be 4-to-6 weeks away from returning to the major leagues.
Though Manuel said he believes the “Carlos Countdown” has started, Mets fans should remember that few of their players recently have come back either earlier than expected or even when expected.
“It’s good progress,” Minaya said. “There’s no specific schedule. … It all depends on how he feels [this] morning.”
The 33-year-old Beltran has missed almost a year to his injury, playing in just 19 games since June 21. He is widely considered the Mets’ best overall player and his value to the team is enormous.
Beltran, considered one of the major leagues’ best center fielders, batted .325 with 10 home runs, 48 RBIs and 11 steals in 81 games last year. In his three previous seasons, he averaged .278, 34 homers, 113 RBIs, 112 runs and 22 steals and won a Gold Glove each of those years.
Additional reporting
by Dan Martin.
mark.hale@nypost.com