{"id":38228,"date":"2025-03-04T01:51:53","date_gmt":"2025-03-04T01:51:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=38228"},"modified":"2025-03-04T01:51:53","modified_gmt":"2025-03-04T01:51:53","slug":"breaking-a-j-minters-opening-day-return-still-possible-after-taking-key-step-in-smart-mets-rehab","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=38228","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: A.J. Minter\u2019s Opening Day return still possible after taking key step in \u2018smart\u2019 Mets rehab"},"content":{"rendered":"
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PORT ST. LUCIE \u2014 This was a big step for A.J. Minter.<\/p>\n

The Mets\u2019 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cPhysically felt good,\u201d Minter said on Sunday. \u201cThat\u2019s 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\u2019ve 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A.J.
A.J. Minter throws during a Mets spring training session on Feb. 11. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Minter, who spent the first eight years of his career with the rival Braves, believes he\u2019s ahead of where he expected to be at this time.<\/p>\n

He\u2019ll throw another session of batting practice before determining if he\u2019s ready to get in a game.<\/p>\n

\"A.J.
Mets pitcher A.J. Minter looks on before a spring training game against the Nationals on Feb. 28, 2025, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Corey Sipkin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019ll be a close call whether he\u2019s ready for Opening Day, but Minter doesn\u2019t want to race against the clock.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I annoy the trainers and the coaches too much about sprinting and doing stuff in the weight room like, \u2018I can do more, I can do more,\u2019 but they\u2019re holding the reins on me,\u201d Minter said. \u201cWe\u2019re 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\u2019re definitely gonna be smart about this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Minter, 31, has already learned that lesson.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a competitor, I want to be ready,\u201d Minter said. \u201cBut as I get older, as I\u2019m 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think learning from the past, you have to get your work in. You can\u2019t just rush in and not face live hitters, games, it\u2019s a different adrenaline rush, a different pace. We\u2019re definitely gonna be smart.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This was a big step for A.J. Minter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":38229,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[44,17,1057,1058,50,780],"class_list":["post-38228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb","tag-mlb","tag-new-york-mets","tag-nyu-langone-injury-report","tag-nyu-langone-medical-center","tag-sports","tag-spring-training"],"yoast_head":"\nBREAKING: A.J. 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