The Mets received “good news” on Monday regarding an MRI scan of Brandon Nimmo’s right shoulder, manager Carlos Mendoza said.
“We’re talking to the trainers right now,” Mendoza said before the Mets hosted the Orioles. “We have good news. The MRI was clean. So structurally, the shoulder is in a good place, in a good location. So I think it’s a day-to-day thing.”
Mendoza said Nimmo could even be available as a backup on Monday. Nimmo did not play against left-hander Trevor Rogers because the Mets only use right-handed hitters.
Nimmo was injured on Sunday when he landed on his shoulder during a pike catch in the seventh inning. He left the game after batting in the bottom of the seventh inning and was eliminated after showing obvious discomfort.
Nimmo was unavailable for comment before the game. Mendoza said the MRI did not take place until 2:45 p.m.
On Sunday, Nimmo said: “It feels a little dead right now. I don’t want to do much with it. Anytime you do something with your shoulder, you worry. The fact that I had to pull out of a game, I don’t like it. Sometimes these things can tighten up and protect right away and get better later. That’s what I’m hoping for. We’ll see what’s in store for us (Monday).”
The Mets’ good news regarding Nimmo came around the same time that their National League wild-card rivals, Atlanta and Arizona, received bad news regarding their injured players.
Atlanta’s Austin Riley is out six to eight weeks with a broken hand. Arizona’s Ketel Marte was placed on the 10-day injured list with a sprained ankle.
Front office moves
Mets director of major league operations Liz Benn is leaving the organization after the season, a source confirmed. Benn, who previously worked in the commissioner’s office, is the highest-ranking woman in the Mets’ baseball operations department. She was hired in 2022 by then-general manager Billy Eppler.
Benn’s departure is part of a series of actions by new President of Baseball Operations David Stearns, who recently informed Director of International Scouting Steve Barningham and scouts Ash Lawson, Tony DeFrancesco and Rudy Terrasas that they will not continue after the season.
Stearns has a policy of not commenting on management changes, a policy he reiterated at his last press conference on Friday when asked about the scouts’ departures. Benn’s departure was first reported in the New York Post.
Back to Williamsport
Mendoza said he was pleased that the Mets were selected to play Seattle in the Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on August 17.
The Mets played the Phillies in the second year of this special MLB event in 2018. The Yankees and Tigers just played in the seventh Classic on Sunday, and during the broadcast, MLB manager Joe Torre announced the Mets and Mariners meeting for next year.
“I watched the game a little bit on Sunday night,” Mendoza said. “It’s pretty cool. I’ve been to a couple of those (special) games, the Field of Dreams game. Pretty special. And I think it’s cool when you’re surrounded by so many kids that you know look up to their heroes, their superstars, and have their dreams.”
Mendoza was the Yankees’ coach when they played the White Sox in the first MLB game at the Field of Dreams in Iowa in 2021.
Nunez close
Mendoza said reliever Dedniel Nunez (forearm strain) could be ready to play as early as Friday in San Diego if his rehab assignment for Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday goes well.
— With David Lennon
Anthony Rieber covers baseball as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has been with Newsday since August 31, 1998 and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
