New York Mets‘ slugger J.D. Davis, who left a game last week because of a jammed shoulder, is inching closer to a return to action. The third baseman/outfielder injured the area while trying to make a defensive play last Tuesday.
Davis took batting practice today and said his expectation is to be ready when opening day rolls.
“Yeah, I feel like I’m ready enough to be ready for Opening Day and everything,” Davis said to SNY. “I have no setbacks or anything right now. So feeling good, feeling strong. All the strength is there, all the range of motion is there. It’s just easing it back in and I think the next thing is just live ABs, hit off the machine and maybe work on diving back to the bag and sliding. But, other than that, we’re looking good right now.”
It does sound like the Mets’ star is close to a return, but first, he needs to clear those hurdles, especially having confidence in diving defensively and sliding into bases. The fact that he is already taking batting practice is a very good indication of his progress.
The Mets ordered an MRI
The injury occurred last week, precisely on Tuesday. After it happened, the Mets ordered an MRI for his shoulder that discovered no new damage. An old injury around the area was spotted, however. At the time, the Mets decided he needed to rest for a week. He has been performing baseball-related activities for a couple of days, though.
“After looking at it and the inflammation going down, no stiffness or anything like that, we could put one, two together that it was an older injury and it wasn’t affecting me at all,” he explained.
The New York Mets are expecting big things from Davis this year. He batted over .300 and slugged 22 homers, so the team needs him if they are going after a playoff spot.
Davis will alternate between left field and third base, sharing the former with Yoenis Cespedes and Dominic Smith and the latter with Jeff McNeil.