MLB

Mets likely to bring back Young in outfield next year

ATLANTA — Eric Young Jr. isn’t content, but for the first time in his career he can say he’s unburdened reporting to the ballpark each day.

“It’s the first opportunity I’ve gotten to go out there and really play and no worries and go out there and have fun,” Young said before going 2-for-3 with a stolen base in the Mets’ 3-1 loss to the Braves last night. “The numbers might not be exactly where I want them, but I’m learning a lot about myself and my body and I’m excited to be part of this organization and part of the future.”

The feeling appears mutual. With Young under club control for next season — he is arbitration eligible for the first time — chances are the Mets will bring him back as part of their 2014 outfield mix.

Manager Terry Collins said the front office thinks highly of the 28-year-old Young, who is batting .256 with two homers and 26 RBIs with 35 stolen bases.

“They love him,” Collins said. “Eric Young has made us a better team for what he does, and we have some ideas going into the next spring training to maybe help him offensively to be a better on-base guy. One of the things he brings, he brings excitement, and people in New York love exciting players. He’s an exciting player.”

Young’s 19 stolen bases since the All-Star break are the most in the major leagues. He also has a stolen base in six of his last seven games for a team that emphasizes aggressiveness on the bases.

Young had limited opportunities to show that speed with the Rockies, who traded him to the Mets in June for pitcher Collin McHugh.

“It’s always been a question mark, what can I do if given the opportunity as far as stolen-base opportunity,” Young said. “I’ve shown them: The more I get out there, the more comfortable I can be, and I’m picking my chances to go.”

Matt Harvey’s torn ulnar collateral ligament doesn’t have the Mets considering an earlier vacation for
Zack Wheeler than originally planned.
“Don’t misunderstand anything when it comes to pitchers’ injuries,” Collins said. “I don’t care what you do, you can’t stop it. I don’t care how hard you try to protect them, when it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen.

”As hard as you try to protect them, sometimes it just doesn’t work.”

Wheeler has pitched 150²/₃ innings this season and could make as many as four more starts. The organization is capping Wheeler around 180 innings.

Daisuke Matsuzaka is scheduled to pitch on Sunday in Cleveland, and general manager Sandy Alderson
said on WFAN the beleaguered right-hander might stick with the club for the remainder of the season regardless of his performance, given the club’s limited options.

Matsuzaka has bombed in each of his first three starts and owns a 10.95 ERA.

Ike Davis returned to New York yesterday to have his strained right oblique examined. No results were immediately announced, but he isn’t expected back this season.