Mets manager Carlos Mendoza spoke ahead of Thursday’s spring training game.
Here are the most important notes…
An update on Sean Manaea
Manaea was shut down on Monday due to a right oblique strain that is expected to keep him out of big league game action until some point in April.
And Mendoza gave a small update on the left-hander on Thursday.
“From the beginning, we’ve been saying two weeks before we reassess him,” Mendoza said. “But again, if in 10 days he’s symptom-free, we will take a look at him. But it could be two weeks. And then when we reassess, maybe he needs an extra seven days or so — so be it. But as of right now, that’s the plan with him.”
In a world where Manaea is reassessed 10 days after his shutdown began, he could theoretically be able to resume baseball activities at some point next week. But as Mendoza noted, it is not a guarantee that Manaea will be cleared right after his first reassessment.
Fortunately for the Mets, Manaea’s injury is not viewed as long-term.
Mendoza said earlier this week that he wasn’t “overly concerned” about it, adding that the MRI revealed the injury was to the muscle only.
“The good news is this is not — the tendon is not involved, the rib cage is not involved,” Mendoza said. “It’s just straight muscle.”
Mendoza on prospect Ryan Clifford
Clifford isn’t getting as much ink or generating as many eyeballs this spring as other prospects such as Luisangel Acuña, Jett Williams, Drew Gilbert, and Brandon Sproat.
A big reason is that, unlike the aforementioned prospects, Clifford hasn’t played above Double-A yet.
But Clifford has immense potential, and Mendoza has noticed.
“The power is real,” Mendoza said. “He can hit the ball to all fields. I like what I’m seeing out of him at first base — his actions. He provides a little bit of versatility, as well, because he can go in the outfield.
“Very limited right now as far as game action goes, but I’m excited to continue to watch him develop and play.”
Clifford, 21, had a .793 OPS last season in his age-20 season while splitting the year between High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton. His power was impacted while with Brooklyn, since their ballpark — which is right on the water in Coney Island — is one of the worst parks in the minors for left-handed power hitters. Clifford hit just one homer in 31 games for Brooklyn.
Once Clifford was promoted to Binghamton, he went on a tear, blasting 18 home runs and 21 doubles in 99 games as he posted an .815 OPS.
Clifford will open this season back in the minors and has an MLB ETA of 2026.
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