MIAMI — Jose Quintana had by no means felt ache just like the one he felt March 6 in Jupiter. The 34-year-old Mets lefty had felt nice day by day main as much as his second Grapefruit League begin and he was trying ahead to getting on the mound, placing in some work and departing for the World Baseball Classic.
But there was a wierd ache in his chest when he was warming up for his spring begin in opposition to the St. Louis Cardinals. After making it by way of one inning, he went again to the dugout and had hassle respiratory. He was frightened it could possibly be an issue along with his coronary heart.
“I started my warmup and I felt way better than my first outing in spring training,” Quintana mentioned Thursday at LoanDepot Park earlier than the Mets’ season opener in opposition to the Miami Marlins. “My pitch was really good, it was great. But that pain in my chest, I was scared. As soon as I got back to the bench, I couldn’t breathe really good and I couldn’t move my arm like I usually do.”
We now know what the ache he was feeling was — a stress fracture on his rib attributable to a benign tumor. Quintana has been shut down since March 6 and not too long ago underwent a bone graft process to appropriate the problem.
He was again within the Mets clubhouse Thursday to assist the crew on Opening Day, proudly exhibiting off the scar on his left hip the place the medical doctors retrieved bone for his rib.
It was a scary few days for Quintana and his spouse, Michel, as they acquired the analysis of a tumor and it was biopsied. They opted to not inform the remainder of the household till they acquired the outcomes of the biopsy in order to not fear their youngsters or anybody else, and fortunately it got here again adverse.
“It was a surprise for me but scary at the same time,” he mentioned.
Quintana will start his rehab this week in New York and expects to proceed rehabbing there. He was lastly allowed to start out transferring round this week and was comfortable to be again within the clubhouse with the crew.
However, he’s nonetheless not fairly certain when he’ll be capable of pitch once more. The Mets anticipate him to be shut down by way of June and are eying a July return, however a lot of it depends upon how his rehab goes and the way lengthy he must construct again up to have the ability to get to recreation form.
“I don’t know yet,” he mentioned. “I don’t have dates. This week I start to get moving and can work out. Let’s see, it’s one step at a time.”
This is Quintana’s first prolonged stint on the injured checklist. He has solely been positioned on the 10-day checklist three earlier instances in his profession and none since 2021. Quintana signed a two-year, $26 million contract in December and the Mets focused him, partly, due to his sturdiness.
THE BELT IS BACK
The Mets’ notorious WWE title belt is as soon as once more being handed round to the participant of the sport after every win. Left-handed reliever Brooks Raley was awarded the belt after pitching an ideal eighth inning to protect a 5-3 lead. Raley confronted a tricky a part of the lineup with pinch-hitter Jon Berti, the 2022 NL stolen base chief, within the No. 9 spot, adopted by leadoff hitter Luis Arraez and Jean Segura. He struck out the primary two, obtained forward within the rely on Segura and obtained him to floor out to Francisco Lindor for a simple out.
It was a debut outing for the 34-year-old Texan, who got here to the Mets in a Winter Meetings commerce with the Tampa Bay Rays. He thought David Robertson would get the belt after changing the save, however he was comfortable to obtain the dignity from his teammates.
“This is my fourth straight year with my fourth different team, so I’ve gotten accustomed to wearing different jerseys and whatnot,” Raley mentioned. “From day one, I’ve really enjoyed being with the Mets and the staff has been great. Getting off to a good start is always a great thing. It was a good Opening Day.”
MAN OF THE PEOPLE
Owner Steve Cohen was readily available for the Opening Day festivities, mixing into the group within the left subject seats. Cohen donned a 7 Line Army “Queens South” shirt and sat within the stands high-fiving followers for a part of the sport.
The 7 Line made their presence recognized.
“It felt like a home game,” outfielder Brandon Nimmo mentioned. “There were a lot of ‘Let’s go Mets’ chants and the 7 Line showed up in full force. It was awesome.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com