PORT ST. LUCIE — Lucas Duda will begin spring training by taking it slow.
The Mets first baseman has soreness in his left rib cage area and won’t swing a bat for at least the first few days of full-squad workouts — which begin Thursday — according to manager Terry Collins.
Duda said he hasn’t been swinging for the last two to three weeks because of the discomfort, which he suspects is the product of taking too many swings without an extensive break during the offseason. Included was a two-week trip to Japan to play in a MLB sponsored tour.
For now, Duda has been limited to tracking pitches in the batting cage. He also will be allowed to take ground balls at first base.
“Obviously I want to go out there and work, but I have to go out there and be smart, and I’ll be ready for the start of the season,” said Duda, who received a cortisone shot.
Last year Duda won the starting first-base job from Ike Davis, who was eventually traded, and finished with a career-best 30 home runs.
“He’s working his butt off and stuff happens,” Collins said. “I came out here on a Sunday a month ago and he was hitting in the cage.”
Collins severely downplayed Rafael Montero’s chances of making the club as a reliever out of spring training.
“You’re asking somebody to do something at the major league level that he hasn’t done very much of, and it’s important that we get out of the gate,” Collins said.
As it stands, the Mets have just one vacancy in the bullpen until Bobby Parnell returns from Tommy John surgery rehab, likely in May. Dillon Gee is expected to begin the season in the bullpen, unless he is traded or there is an injury within the rotation.
“If Dillon is there, we’ve only got one more spot left, and you might go with a little bit more experienced guy at the start of the season,” Collins said.
In looking at the potential composition of his roster, Collins said he will miss Eric Young Jr., who was non-tendered by the club.
“We’re going to miss Eric Young’s foot speed,” Collins said. “We don’t have anybody to make up for that.”
Mets general manager Sandy Alderson recently served on a jury in Manhattan. As part of the jury selection, he was asked what he does in his free time.
“Well, now I’m looking for a shortstop,” Alderson quipped, according to the Wall Street Journal.
“I thought that might get me out of jury duty,” Alderson said.