Asdrubal Cabrera made his return to game action for the first time since March 10th yesterday, since suffering from a strained patellar tendon in his left knee, which he injured running the bases.
Cabrera went 0-for-3 while playing five innings at shortstop during the Mets 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. He finished the game without any further issues, as he readies himself for opening day.
“I felt really good today. My knee feels strong, Cabrera said. All I have to do is do what I’m doing, working every day to get ready for the season.” (Newsday)
Being out for the last three weeks has made it hard for Cabrera, and the Mets new second baseman, Neil Walker to get acclimated to each others style of play. Cabrera doesn’t see that as being much an issue.
“As I’ve said before, he’s a great second baseman, so I don’t think we have too much to work through.”
Cabrera, 30, looked solid in the field, including coming up with a nice play in the fourth inning. With runners on second and third and one out, Cabrera gunned out Matt Adams as he tried to advance on Eric Fryer‘s grounder. Manager, Terry Collins was pleased with what he saw out of his new shortstop in his return to the field.
“He handled himself fine,” Collins said. “He said his legs were a little heavy today, but otherwise I thought he took some good swings and looked pretty comfortable, which was a good sign.”
Cabrera will continue getting some at-bat’s in today in minor league action, and is expected to play the final three exhibition’s at short as he prepares to play Sunday night in Kansas City for the season opener.
Asdrubal Cabrera signed a two-year pact with this Mets this past off-season. Cabrera will receive $8.25 million in each of the next two seasons, with a $2 million buyout on his 2018 club option, for a total guaranteed salary of $18.5 million.
