Jose Reyes admitted yesterday what most people likely already presumed: Even when he’s healthy, the Mets shortstop thinks about his fragile hamstrings.
“My confidence running-wise wasn’t there,” Reyes said of his time on the field between the two left hamstring strains that have landed him on the disabled list. “Anytime you have a problem with your hamstring, you don’t get your confidence back right away. It’s going to take some time to put it out of your mind.”
Reyes ran for the first time since re-injuring his hamstring yesterday, when he tested himself at the Long Island training facility where he works out during the offseason. Though Reyes is eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday, manager Terry Collins called his return by that day “a stretch.”
Reyes has been taking part in hitting and fielding drills and said yesterday he wasn’t 100 percent, though he has seen considerable improvement over the past few days.
Though the Mets — 6-1 losers to the Brewers last night at Citi Field — are out of playoff contention, the next six weeks of the regular season could play a significant role in Reyes’ future, as he tries to prove that he can stay healthy and productive heading into free agency.
“I’m not worried about my contract right now,” said Reyes, who added that he isn’t thinking about winning the batting championship. “My concern is getting on the field.”
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Tickets from last night’s rain-delayed game can be redeemed starting today for complimentary tickets to one of the Mets’ Sept. 12-15 games against the Nationals at Citi Field.
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Jason Bay, mired in an 0-for-20 slide, was given last night off by Collins, who originally talked to the left fielder about skipping the final game of the road trip in San Diego, because Collins wanted Bay to get consecutive days off. Justin Turner also sat out, as he remains banged up, and Collins wanted to get as many lefties into the lineup as possible against last night’s starter, Shaun Marcum.
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The Mets’ first-round pick in this year’s draft, Brandon Nimmo, went 1-for-6 in his pro debut yesterday with the rookie level Gulf Coast Mets. The 13th-overall pick batted second and was the designated hitter.