Mets pitching prospect Jenrry Mejia threw off a mound for the first time since he undergoing Tommy John surgery last May.
Manager Terry Collins watched Mejia and said he was happy to see him on the mound again. “I thought he looked good and loose. He had really good extension”, Collins said.
There’s a very good chance we’ll see Mejia back on the major league roster this season according to Collins. But the team has yet to officially say whether the former top prospect will work as a starter or reliever after completing his rehab, but it’s most likely that he will work out of the bullpen.
Of course the bigger rehabbing story for the Mets is left-hander Johan Santana who completed his third bullpen session of the spring without incident.
It’s a significant step forward for Santana because he was pitching on just one day of rest. he also has ramped up to 32 pitches as the begin to stretch his arm out.
Santana was mostly pleased with his ability to repeat his delivery and get into a groove.
“I think the consistency from the first pitch to the last one is there,” Santana said. “I’m not trying to change anything, and I’m just keeping my mechanics and trying to stay with everything I used to do on the mound. And everything is there.”
The plan for Santana is to throw at least two more bullpen sessions before facing off against live batters late next week. Terry Collins has already tabbed his ace to start the Mets Grapefruit League opener against the Nationals on March 5th, and is confident that Santana will be ready for Opening Day.
