Good news for Juan Lagares as the MRI on his strained oblique came back “better than we hoped,” according to Terry Collins.
Anthony Dicomo of MLB.com reports that the team is now “a bit more optimistic he could make the Opening Day roster.”
Previous Report
According to Marly Rivera of ESPN, Juan Lagares told Yoenis Cespedes that the MRI on his strained oblique showed no serious injury and he is hopeful that with treatment he’ll be alright in a week or so.
Lagares left Saturday’s game with the injury and received an MRI on Monday while being examined by team doctors. “I feel almost 100%,” Lagares told Rivera on Tuesday morning.
No official word from the Mets yet, but if Lagares is not ready by Opening Day, Michael Conforto will likely replace him on the roster according to several reports.
Original Report – March 26
Center fielder Juan Lagares will have an MRI of his strained left oblique on Monday, the team announced this morning. Additionally, a team source told Mike Puma of the NY Post, that if Lagares was to begin the season on the disabled list, Michael Conforto would be a cinch to make the opening day roster.
Lagares left the game early this afternoon after suffering a strained left oblique, the Mets announced. The severity of the strain is still unknown. Lagares led off the game in center and went 1-for-2 with a triple before being removed from action in the bottom of the third.
If Lagares is forced to miss significant time, it would be a big loss for the Mets, leaving Curtis Granderson as the only natural center fielder on the roster. Yoenis Cespedes, of course, has been given time in center over the past few years, but has struggled defensively. Lagares was set to split time in the outfield with Granderson and Jay Bruce.
Lagares, 28, batted .239/.301/.380 last season in 160 plate appearances. However, he has hit lefties pretty well throughout his career, slashing .276/.322/.412 against southpaws to go along with stellar defense.
