BREAKING: A.J. Minter’s Opening Day return still possible after taking key step in ‘smart’ Mets rehab

PORT ST. LUCIE — This was a big step for A.J. Minter.

The Mets’ new lefty reliever, signed to a two-year, $22 million contract with an opt-out after this season, faced hitters on Sunday for the first time since undergoing hip surgery in August.

It came during a batting practice session at Clover Park as the Mets traveled to Fort Myers for their Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.

“Physically felt good,” Minter said on Sunday. “That’s all I can really ask for. I threw a lot of strikes, I think I threw too many strikes. Wish I got some more swings and misses, the competitor in me wishes I would’ve gone out there and struck everyone out, but it being the first time facing hitters since August, I was happy with it. Checked the box today, and on to the next one.”

A.J. Minter’s Opening Day return still possible after taking key step in ‘smart’ Mets rehab — A.J. Minter throws during a Mets spring training session on Feb. 11. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post

Minter, who spent the first eight years of his career with the rival Braves, believes he’s ahead of where he expected to be at this time.

He’ll throw another session of batting practice before determining if he’s ready to get in a game.

It’ll be a close call whether he’s ready for Opening Day, but Minter doesn’t want to race against the clock.

“I think I annoy the trainers and the coaches too much about sprinting and doing stuff in the weight 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 have to miss a few days or a couple weeks, my goal is to help this team at the end of the season. We’re definitely gonna be smart about this.”

Minter, 31, has already learned that lesson.

“I’m a competitor, I want to be ready,” Minter said. “But as I get older, as I’m a little bit wiser, I have gone in the past where I rushed through spring trainings and it hurt me in the season. In 2019, I got in a car accident in spring training, got a cortisone shot in my shoulder, rushed back, missed opening weekend, and I never went on a rehab assignment, just had like two live [batting practices]. Rushed back and ended up having a horrible season, got sent down.

“I think learning from the past, you have to get your work in. You can’t just rush in and not face live hitters, games, it’s a different adrenaline rush, a different pace. We’re definitely gonna be smart.”