Jose Reyes was asked yesterday what happens if he hits a ball into the gap tomorrow.
“It’s a triple,” he said, simply.
Reyes felt just fine when he ran the bases yesterday before the Mets’ 8-5 loss to the Phillies at Citi Field, his strained left hamstring presumably healed.
The Mets’ shortstop, who has been on the disabled list for just over two weeks, will play a rehab game this afternoon at MCU Park in Coney Island for the Class-A Brooklyn Cyclones.
Assuming he comes through it healthy, Reyes should be back with the Mets tomorrow night and activated for their series opener against the Cardinals at Citi Field.
Reyes has missed the Mets’ last 11 games, as well as the All-Star Game, shelved on the DL since July 3.
“I anticipate one [rehab] game,” manager Terry Collins said. “Hopefully he’ll come out of it feeling good.”
Reyes had “no problem” with playing the rehab game, saying, “I do whatever they want me to do.”
He said he had no issues with his hamstring yesterday.
“I feel very good. I’m happy I didn’t feel anything in my leg,” he said. “It feels normal. I don’t feel tightness.”
Reyes is likely to play the entire game today when the Cyclones face the Lowell Spinners.
Despite missing two weeks of his sensational season, Reyes entered yesterday still pacing the National League in hits (124), triples (15) and multi-hit games (43), while also maintaining his lead in the NL batting race with a .354 average. He’s second in the NL in stolen bases with 30, five behind the Astros’ Michael Bourn.
The Mets have gone 6-5 without Reyes against the Yankees, Dodgers, Giants and Phillies. Ruben Tejada has batted just .194 (7-for-36) as Reyes’ replacement at shortstop.
Reyes was enthused about his recovery, given his history of leg injuries.
“It is a relief,” he said. “Because in the past injuries I have had, I’ve had a lot of setbacks.”