Infielder T.J. Rivera is hoping to be ready for Opening Day next year when the New York Mets play the St. Louis Cardinals on March 29 at Citi Field.
Rivera, 29, underwent Tommy John surgery in September after the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow snapped.
“Me personally, I’m looking to be ready right around the beginning of the season. If there’s no setbacks, I’m hoping that’s the outcome. But I think it just takes time to see how it feels when I start throwing. I’ve never had really any surgery, so it’s kind of a weird position for me, ” Rivera told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.
Some position players have seen game action in as little as seven months after TJS. The Mets are being cautiously optimistic and think that a midsummer return for Rivera is more likely.
Rivera slashed .290/.330/.430 with 13 doubles, triple, five home runs and 27 RBI in 231 major league plate appearances for the Mets in 2017.
He showed off his versatility playing third base, first base, second base, and left field for the Mets. The recently turned 29-year-old got his most action at third base where he played 28 games with -4 DRS and a -1.1 UZR.
The Mets have expressed interest this offseason in upgrading at the second base position, where T.J. plays his best defense, and started their offseason by picking up the 2018 option on veteran infielder Asdrubal Cabrera.
“It’s tough, because I know the team has to have someone ready to play,” Rivera said. “I get that they don’t know where I’m going to be at, and how my arm’s going to react to the surgery. I understand that. And it’s frustrating because I know the position I play is one of the positions that they’re looking to fill. I hope they do still see me as a possibility.”
The Mets also have Wilmer Flores, Matt Reynolds, and Gavin Cecchini on the 40-man roster currently as depth at second and third base.
