PHILADELPHIA — First, there were visa problems because of a positive test for performance enhancing drugs a year ago.
Then, there was the completion of a 50-game suspension as a result of that positive test.
That was followed by anemia and then finally, an oblique injury.
After all that, the Mets got their backup catcher back before last night’s 10-3 loss in Philadelphia, as Ronny Paulino arrived at Citizens Bank Park and prepares to make his debut behind the plate with for the Mets tomorrow night against Cliff Lee and the Phillies.
“I’m excited I finally made it,” said Paulino, who was on the disabled list since April 10 with anemia and was forced to miss the season’s first eight games while serving the remainder of last year’s suspension. “It seems like everything happened back-to-back- to-back.”
But now the right-handed hitting Paulino appears set to be Josh Thole’s backup, playing primarily against lefties. Paulino grounded out to third as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning last night.
Mike Nickeas was sent back to Triple-A Buffalo to make room on the roster.
Paulino said he’s ready to contribute despite the time he missed, as well as his struggles in 12 rehab games, where he went 8-for-42 (.190) with two doubles and four RBI.
“I talked to [Buffalo manager] Tim Teufel,” Mets manager Terry Collins said, “and he told me how Ronny looked offensively and defensively and said he was ready to go, get him in there.”
Just as big a challenge for Paulino will be gaining a comfort level with the pitching staff, especially because he wasn’t able to get to Port St. Lucie from the Dominican Republic until March 12 because of the visa issues, and was quickly sidetracked by the anemia.
“I’ve caught a bunch of different relievers and some starters and I’ve been watching video, talking to the pitching coach [Dan Warthen] and Thole,” said Paulino, who is scheduled to catch Chris Young tomorrow night.
But even Collins admits that’s not enough.
“You can do all the talking you want, you’ve got to catch them,” Collins said. “He’s played long enough and he’ll be able to adapt fast.”
Paulino caught R.A. Dickey’s bullpen session yesterday to try to get more adept at catching a knuckleball, but Collins said he isn’t sure when Paulino will be ready to catch in a game.
In the meantime, the manager said he won’t hesitate to use Paulino off the bench after the sixth inning as a pinch hitter.
“If he’s the right-handed bat who can do damage, then he’s going to go up there,” Collins said.
Paulino was used as an everyday player a year ago with the Marlins. Jason Bay, Paulino’s teammate when both were with the Pirates, believes the catcher is better suited to the reserve role he figures to fill with the Mets.
“He’s a good complement to Thole as a lefty-righty combination,” Bay said. “We face a lot of lefties in this division.”
Bay said he doesn’t believe Paulino, 30, will be affected by the dimensions of Citi Field.
“He stays inside the ball and tends to hit it the other way,” Bay said. “He’s got some power, but he has a little more of a compact stroke. But he knows he’s not here to try to hit 20 homers. Last year, he was in there all the time and sometimes you get caught up in that and try to do too much. I think he understands his role here.”
Paulino said he isn’t worried about any more setbacks because of the anemia.
“I always felt fine the whole spring training,” Paulino said. “I didn’t think there was [anything] wrong with me. I was playing every day and playing pretty good. I didn’t feel sick, tired or dizzy.”
After being on medication for two weeks, he has had no problems. Now he hopes he can stick around for a while.