New York Mets infielder T.J. Rivera played catch from about 45 feet for the first time since Tommy John surgery on Thursday according to Abbey Mastracco of NJ.com.
Rivera, 29, underwent Tommy John surgery in September after the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow snapped. The Mets recently placed him on the 60-day disabled list when they officially signed pitcher Jason Vargas.
Rivera has been fielding ground balls and dropping them in a bucket, he’s happy to have progressed to the next stage, “It was nice to feel like a ballplayer again.”
The utility guy expects to start doing soft toss in the next few weeks.
Rivera slashed .290/.330/.430, with 102 wRC+, 13 doubles, triple and five home runs in 231 plate appearances for the Mets in 2017. He played first, second and third base while also playing his first major league game in left field. 
