ANAHEIM, Calif. — Chris Young could be back in the lineup by the Mets’ next homestand.
The Mets outfielder, who was placed on the disabled list last week with a strained right quadriceps, played a second straight extended spring game in Port St. Lucie, Fla., on Friday and will head to Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday for continued playing time, according to manager Terry Collins.
The plan calls for Young to join the Mets in Arizona before the end of this road trip to take batting practice with the team and be activated for the game on April 18 against the Braves at Citi Field.
Young will give the Mets four outfielders for three spots, but Collins said it’s too early to say how playing time will be divided.
Collins was asked if slumping Curtis Granderson could be considered for occasional off days that would allow Young, Eric Young Jr., and Juan Lagares to play together.
“Too early to know,” Collins said before the Mets’ 5-4, 11-inning loss to the Angels.
The Mets are among the teams that will watch Joel Hanrahan throw next week, according to a n industry source. The Mets also watched Hanrahan throw before spring training.
Jonathan Niese will be allowed to throw 105 pitches on Saturday in his second scheduled start of the season. According to Collins, the lefty encountered no problems following his season debut on Sunday. Niese had missed his first turn in the rotation to build up arm strength in Port St. Lucie.
Colllins was asked what he learned from his experience with the Angels in the late-1990s. Collins resigned as manager of the team in 1999 amid a player revolt.
“I’m a completely different guy than I was 15 years ago,” Collins said. “A lot more mellow and what I feel is a much better communicator than I was back then. If I had done 15 years ago what I do today, I don’t think we would have had some of the problems creep up that did.”