Updated Post: April 21, 11:00 pm ET
J.D. Martinez is officially set to return to the lineup for Low-A St. Lucie today. He’s batting second and is the designated hitter.
The game is set for a 12:10 pm ET first pitch. It can be seen through the MLB app with a subscription as well as on Ballys Sports Live Now.
Martinez has been out of action with back issues and received a cortisone injection.
Updated Post: April 9 at 5:16 p.m.
We’ve kept this thread going updating J.D. Martinez’s status… and this one’s not great.
Carlos Mendoza said the DH received a cortisone injection for back tightness and will rest for three to five days. That’s not a great update for a player who’s dealt with back issues in the past.
The J.D. Martinez experience will have to wait a little longer, and you have to wonder if the Mets eat crow and call up Mark Vientos as soon as he’s eligible this weekend.
Updated Post: April 7 at 12:00 p.m.
According to Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, designated hitter J.D. Martinez will not be joining the Mets for the team’s next series in Atlanta. Martinez, who played the last two days for the St. Lucie Mets (Single-A), will have the next couple days off. Mendoza added he’s dealing with “overall body soreness.”
Martinez went 0-for-4 on Friday with a walk but did not strike out. On Saturday, he registered a single and walk going 1-for-4 at the plate. He had several hard hit balls, over 100 mph off the bat, as well.
Original Post –
The New York Mets enter Friday with a number other than zero in the win column for the first time this season. As the team looks to get on a roll, it was greeted with a few minor updates before Friday’s game.
Perhaps most notably, J.D. Martinez will make his season debut for Single-A St. Lucie on Friday. This is the first day of games for Double-A, High-A and Single-A teams all around baseball. Martinez was a late signing during spring training and stayed in Port St. Lucie during the first segment of the MLB season.
Martinez will DH and bat second for St. Lucie on Friday. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza called Martinez’s situation “fluid,” and said that they’ll assess the next steps after Martinez plays on Friday and Saturday. Getting him back to full strength will be key for the Mets, who rank dead last in team batting average and OPS among all 30 teams.
Meanwhile, Brandon Nimmo has a tight right hamstring and is considered day-to-day, Mendoza told reporters. Nimmo has been one of the focal points of the Mets’ offensive struggles with just one hit in 21 at-bats. He wasn’t listed in Friday’s lineup; Francisco Lindor, whose struggles have been even more severe than Nimmo’s, will bat leadoff in his place.
Nimmo has hit into some bad luck and still has an OBP nearing .300 despite his .048 average. In any case, a brief rest could give him a chance to reset mentally. Mendoza said Nimmo felt tight on Thursday and is feeling better on Friday, so it’s likely nothing too serious.
In addition to the Martinez news came another update on an even more recent signing: Julio Teheran. The Mets’ signing of their former nemesis became official on Friday, and Mendoza said that he’ll start on Monday against the Braves. He could also be used out of the bullpen in Friday’s game.
