PORT ST. LUCIE — This was an enormous step for A.J. Minter.
The Mets’ recent lefty reliever, signed to a two-year, $22 million contract with an opt-out after this season, faced hitters on Sunday for the primary time since undergoing hip surgery in August.
It got here during a batting rehearsal at Clover Park because the Mets traveled to Fort Myers for his or her Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.
“Physically felt good,” Minter said on Sunday. “That’s all I can really ask for. I threw plenty of strikes, I feel I threw too many strikes. Wish I got some more swings and misses, the competitor in me wishes I might’ve gone on the market and struck everyone out, but it surely being the primary time facing hitters since August, I used to be blissful with it. Checked the box today, and on to the subsequent one.”
Minter, who spent the primary eight years of his profession with the rival Braves, believes he’s ahead of where he expected to be presently.
He’ll throw one other session of batting practice before determining if he’s able to get in a game.
It’ll be a detailed call whether he’s ready for Opening Day, but Minter doesn’t wish to race against the clock.
“I feel I annoy the trainers and the coaches an excessive amount of about sprinting and doing stuff in the load room like, ‘I can do more, I can do more,’ but they’re holding the reins on me,” Minter said. “We’re gonna be smart about this. If I actually have to miss a couple of days or a pair weeks, my goal is to assist this team at the tip of the season. We’re definitely gonna be smart about this.”
Minter, 31, has already learned that lesson.
“I’m a competitor, I need to be ready,” Minter said. “But as I become old, as I’m slightly bit wiser, I actually have gone previously where I rushed through spring trainings and it hurt me within the season. In 2019, I got in a automotive accident in spring training, got a cortisone shot in my shoulder, rushed back, missed opening weekend, and I never went on a rehab project, just had like two live [batting practices]. Rushed back and ended up having a horrible season, got sent down.
“I feel learning from the past, you will have to get your work in. You possibly can’t just rush in and never face live hitters, games, it’s a unique adrenaline rush, a unique pace. We’re definitely gonna be smart.”
PORT ST. LUCIE — This was an enormous step for A.J. Minter.
The Mets’ recent lefty reliever, signed to a two-year, $22 million contract with an opt-out after this season, faced hitters on Sunday for the primary time since undergoing hip surgery in August.
It got here during a batting rehearsal at Clover Park because the Mets traveled to Fort Myers for his or her Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.
“Physically felt good,” Minter said on Sunday. “That’s all I can really ask for. I threw plenty of strikes, I feel I threw too many strikes. Wish I got some more swings and misses, the competitor in me wishes I might’ve gone on the market and struck everyone out, but it surely being the primary time facing hitters since August, I used to be blissful with it. Checked the box today, and on to the subsequent one.”
Minter, who spent the primary eight years of his profession with the rival Braves, believes he’s ahead of where he expected to be presently.
He’ll throw one other session of batting practice before determining if he’s able to get in a game.
It’ll be a detailed call whether he’s ready for Opening Day, but Minter doesn’t wish to race against the clock.
“I feel I annoy the trainers and the coaches an excessive amount of about sprinting and doing stuff in the load room like, ‘I can do more, I can do more,’ but they’re holding the reins on me,” Minter said. “We’re gonna be smart about this. If I actually have to miss a couple of days or a pair weeks, my goal is to assist this team at the tip of the season. We’re definitely gonna be smart about this.”
Minter, 31, has already learned that lesson.
“I’m a competitor, I need to be ready,” Minter said. “But as I become old, as I’m slightly bit wiser, I actually have gone previously where I rushed through spring trainings and it hurt me within the season. In 2019, I got in a automotive accident in spring training, got a cortisone shot in my shoulder, rushed back, missed opening weekend, and I never went on a rehab project, just had like two live [batting practices]. Rushed back and ended up having a horrible season, got sent down.
“I feel learning from the past, you will have to get your work in. You possibly can’t just rush in and never face live hitters, games, it’s a unique adrenaline rush, a unique pace. We’re definitely gonna be smart.”
