PORT ST. LUCIE — Instead of handing out candy hearts, Bobby Parnell threw 10 pitches from a bullpen mound to serve as his Valentine’s Day gift to the Mets on Friday.
And manager Terry Collins couldn’t have asked for a better surprise, after initial indications the right-hander — recovering from surgery to repair a herniated disk in his neck — might need another week-and-a-half before getting on a mound this spring.
“Bobby met with all the medical people involved, and he wanted to get out there because he’s been playing catch,” Collins said. “He just wanted to see how it felt, and it felt great.”
The Mets recently signed veterans Kyle Farnsworth and Jose Valverde to minor league contracts, but Collins indicated Parnell is the team’s closer, if healthy.
Parnell went 5-5 with a 2.16 ERA in 49 games last season with 22 saves in 26 chances.
Collins hinted veterans Daisuke Matsuzaka and John Lannan may have a slight edge on Jenrry Mejia in the battle for the fifth starter’s spot.
“We’re going to take the guy that is going to get us started the best,” Collins said. “If it’s Dice-K, if it’s a veteran guy, I think that’s good.
“I’ve always said those veterans can really get you out of the blocks, and then when those kids are ready, they are the ones that a lot of times bring you that extra energy late in the summer.”
If Eric Young Jr. doesn’t crack the starting lineup, Ruben Tejada and Chris Young would be the main options to bat leadoff, according to Collins. But Young’s inclusion in the starting lineup would likely come at the expense of Juan Lagares.
“We’ll figure that out as we get into camp,” Collins said. “But as he we sit here today, Eric Young is the guy you kind of like to see at the top of the order.”
Jon Niese is the preference to pitch Opening Day on March 31 at Citi Field because, as much as anything, Collins would like to throw a lefty against the Nationals’ lineup.
Wilmer Flores is expected to see action at shortstop this spring as the Mets attempt to find a position for the rookie. Omar Quintanilla is considered the backup to Tejada at shortstop heading into camp.
David Wright and Daniel Murphy will have their at-bats curtailed early in the exhibition season. Collins said early fatigue may have contributed to both players sustaining oblique/rib cage injuries in camp last season.
“We’re going to try to keep this oblique thing under control,” Collins said.