PORT ST. LUCIE – It was only five innings, and it was only a Single-A game, but Jose Reyes will take it.
After sitting on the shelf for three weeks with a strained right hamstring, the Mets second baseman began his rehab assignment last night in a game for St. Lucie, and he passed the test.
The 20-year-old went 1-for-2 with a stolen base, and recorded two putouts and an assist in a 9-4 loss to the Brevard County Manatees. Reyes said he felt no pain and that his lateral movement was better than it had been.
“I felt good,” Reyes said. “What can I say? Three weeks ago, I couldn’t move to the side. It was so different. Now it’s better. I felt nothing.”
Reyes said he “definitely” will play in tonight’s game at Palm Beach (Cardinals). Depending on how he feels this morning, he may play a full nine innings. After that, he likely will make a few more starts here or for one of the higher-level farm teams before returning to the Mets, meaning he could be back in the majors by Memorial Day.
“We’ll see how it goes and take it on a day-by-day basis,” Mets GM Jim Duquette said in New York. “We’ll see how he’s feeling [today]. If he’s feeling fine we’ll progress it to either seven or nine innings. We’ll make that decision [today]. We don’t have a set timetable.”
St. Lucie manager Tim Teufel said before the game he would leave Reyes in for a maximum of five innings. It appeared Reyes would get a third at-bat in the fifth, but he was left in the on-deck circle when Corey Ragsdale flew out.
“I wanted to hit,” Reyes said. “But that’s part of the game. I thought I was only going to play four but they asked me if I could play five. I said, ‘Yeah. I feel great.’ “
It was Reyes’ first game action since April 30, when he re-injured the hamstring he first hurt on March 14.
He was tested in the field in the first inning when former Yankee Nick Johnson, also on a rehab assignment, hit a hard grounder toward second base. Reyes was forced to go to his right, cleanly scooped the ball and flipped it to Ragsdale, who was covering second, to begin the double play.
Reyes led off the bottom of the first by grounding out to Johnson on the second pitch he saw. He went full speed to first base, showing no signs of strain. He recorded his first hit since April 29 in the third, a line-drive single to center. His leg got another test when he stole second base.
Reyes’ only blemish came in the fifth when he attempted to turn a double play but threw wide to first.
Reyes was his usual playful self before the game, showing no signs of nervousness. He played pingpong in the clubhouse and clowned around with teammates, wearing a safari hat.
Reyes said he hoped to see Shea Stadium soon but was trying to remain patient.
“I have to play a couple more games before I play in the big leagues,” Reyes said. “I just have to see more pitches and get more comfortable.”