PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Jose Reyes told the Post yesterday he was hopeful he would soon get up off his couch on Long Island and be back playing shortstop for the Mets.
He got his wish today when he was cleared to resume baseball activities and will rejoin the Mets tomorrow.
“My spirits are better now,’’ Reyes told me yesterday, his first public comments since he was diagnosed with a hyperthyroid condition. “I’m feeling better; I’ll be back, hopefully soon. I can’t wait to get back.’’
David Wright who has been in contact with Reyes all along is optimistic Reyes will be back to 100 percent quickly.
“It will not be long before he gets back to full speed,’’ Wright said.
Perhaps even by Opening Day. Reyes said he was feeling fine all along, so it should not take too long to regain his baseball mojo.
As of late Monday night Reyes had not been cleared, according to Reyes, his agent and the Mets. But that all changed today. He was into the third week of Camp Shutdown, which was originally announced as a two-to-eight week period.
Jose Reyes is no longer out at home.
Reyes is the type of person who never sits still so this has been a frustrating time for him, but he now has a better understanding of the “big picture’’ and as a result, realizes this has was only a short-term setback.
Reyes told me that he was quite down at first, but is feeling better now from an emotional standpoint. He also said he has not suffered from any significant symptoms, so his body feels fine. In a way, that’s been the toughest part of all this.
In terms of his baseball future and his life in general, he understands he must get past all this.
“Everything is going good so far, so let’s see what happens,’’ Reyes noted.
Asked what he has done to pass the time, Reyes laughed and said, “I’m still lying down on my couch every day. I’ve seen like 20 movies so far.’’
Which is his favorite?
“I enjoy every one. I got nothing to do, that’s what I got to do.’’
Movie time is complete, now it’s back to baseball.
Reyes thought he was past all his woes when he came to spring training in February, but blood tests revealed the serious problem. Reyes referred to it as a virus and said it had to run its course.
Wright has been in contact with Reyes throughout. “It’s really good to hear from him, I can’t wait to be back and see him,’’ Reyes said of Wright.
Wright last called Reyes on Friday and could tell that Reyes’ spirits were beginning to lift.
“I think he enjoys hearing from me and he really wants to be down here,’’ Wright said. “He wants to be around us and, most importantly, he wants to play.’’
Reyes is coming off a torn hamstring tendon, an injury that was diagnosed last May as a calf injury, an injury that was supposed to sideline Reyes for a couple days.
He hasn’t played in a major league game since May 20. It’s been a long haul to nowhere. In Reyes’ locker are five pairs of shoes, two gloves, two caps and three freshly pressed sets of uniforms, waiting to be put to use.
That day will be tomorrow. Reyes is up off the couch and back at shortstop.
kevin.kernan@nypost.com