PORT ST. LUCIE — Kirk Nieuwenhuis is out to show his left shoulder is healthy and capable of withstanding a full season.
He is off to a good start after yesterday hitting a two-run homer in the Mets’ intrasquad scrimmage at Digital Domain Park.
The Mets haven’t eliminated the possibility of keeping Nieuwenhuis as a spare outfielder on the Opening Day roster, but he’s more likely to begin the season at Triple-A Buffalo, playing regularly in case something should happen to starting center fielder Andres Torres.
Though the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Nieuwenhuis isn’t gifted with terrific speed, manager Terry Collins said he can handle center.
“He’s got great skills, and he plays the game the way you want it played,” Collins said. “He plays really hard. He’s one of those guys where it gets close to 7:00 [gametime] and his mood changes.”
Nieuwenhuis underwent surgery last July to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. In 53 games at Triple-A Buffalo, he batted .298 with six homers and 14 RBIs.
“You’ve just got to go out there and put the injury behind you and keep playing,” Nieuwenhuis said.
* Matt Harvey pitched 1 2/3 innings in the scrimmage and did not allow a run, on three hits with one walk and one strikeout. Harvey left the game before getting his final out, because the nail on his index finger was digging into his thumb, causing it to bleed. Harvey said it wasn’t the first time he has had that problem.
The right-hander is scheduled to pitch Monday in the Mets’ Grapefruit League opener against the Nationals.
“I didn’t locate as well as I wanted to,” Harvey said. “But I’m happy with the way my body felt. My arm felt good, and I’ll try to take the positive out of that.”
* The Mets have another intrasquad scrimmage planned for today. R.A. Dickey, Jon Rauch, Pedro Beato and D.J. Carrasco are among the pitchers scheduled for action.
* Johan Santana is expected to throw a light bullpen session today and have a long-toss. Santana, who threw 40 pitches in batting practice on Thursday, is scheduled to pitch Tuesday against the Cardinals in an exhibition game.