PORT ST. LUCIE — A.J. Minter is on track to be ready for Opening Day and ahead of schedule with his spring progression. But ultimately, he knows the decision isn’t his to make. It’s up to the Mets’ trainers, doctors and his surgically-repaired left hip.
The left-handed reliever took a key step toward a return from the injury Sunday when he threw a live bullpen session for the first time this spring. Minter will throw to hitters at least one more time before appearing in a Grapefruit League game.
“Physically, I felt good. I guess that’s all I can really ask for,” Minter said Sunday at Clover park. “And I guess, obviously, I threw a lot of strikes. I think I threw too many strikes. I wish I had gotten a [few] more swings, but this is the competitor to me. I wish I would have gone out there and struck everyone out, but being the first time facing hitters since, you know, August 1, or August 2, I was happy with it. Check the box today onto the next one.”
Minter threw roughly 20-25 pitches, with hitters swinging often and early. The 31-year-old missed a few spots and gave up a few hard-hit balls, but he also got a few weak ground balls and some of the swings and misses he was looking for.
However, he was able to trust his body without hesitation, which was a positive step considering this was something he noticed was challenging when he started playing catch again after surgery. Now that he’s able to throw without pain, he’ll need to focus on his mechanical aspect before making a return to competitive action.
“I’m doing my best to, I think, get in the positions that I want. I think now it’s just the reps,” Minter said. “Getting the body the reps it needs, the mentally cueing of the mechanics and syncing everything up. I think the timing is off more than anything. But physically, I feel great. I think it’s just more of the mechanics. And syncing everything up is where I think I can improve a little bit more.”
Minter had his left labrum repaired, as well as a hip impingement and a lesion on his femur removed. Mets left-handed starter David Peterson also had his left hip labrum repaired in the fall of 2023, and bounced back to have a career year in 2024. He’s leaning on Peterson heavily for advice, asking him how his hip felt at certain points throughout his recovery.
While everything feels good at the moment, Minter understands that this isn’t the time to overload himself and race to the finish line. If he has to start the season on the injured list, so be it.
An IL stint earlier in the season is far more preferable than late in the season during a playoff push.
“I want to be ready, as I get older, I’m a little bit wiser,” he said. “In the past, I’ve rushed through spring trainings and it hurt me during the season. In 2019, I got in a car accident in spring training, got a cortisone shot in my shoulder and rushed back. I missed opening weekend, and I never faced [hitters] and never went on a rehab assignment. I threw two live BPs and rushed back, ended up having a horrible season in 2019, and got sent down…
“I think learning from the past, you have to get your work in. You can’t just rush in and not face live hitters and play games. I mean, it’s a different adrenaline rush at a different pace. So we’re definitely going to be smart.”
Minter signed a two-year, $22 million contract as a free agent with the Mets over the winter. The contract included a signing bonus of $1 million and a player option after the 2025 season.
QUICK HITTERS
– Right-hander Blade Tidwell returned from Port Charlotte on Sunday to Port St. Lucie, where the Mets pitchers congratulated him on his immaculate inning against the Tampa Bay Rays. Technically, Tidwell corrected them, it was an immaculate 1 1/3 innings, as he struck out the final four of the six batters he faced, punching each hitter out with only three pitches.
The 23-year-old said he was unaware that he had accomplished the rare feat until he was informed after the game, something his fellow pitchers found incredulous.
– Kodai Senga will make his first Grapefruit League start Monday against the Miami Marlins. The right-hander is set to throw one inning, then will finish his outing throwing in the bullpen. Peterson will throw in relief in his first Grapefruit League game of the year.
– Infielder Luisangel Acuña was out of the lineup against the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers, but still worked on defensive drills. He was hit near the elbow with a pitch Saturday, but the Mets still don’t seem concerned about any major injury.
– Paul Blackburn had a tough outing against the Red Sox, allowing four earned runs on three hits and two walks over 1 1/3 innings. The Mets lost 6-4.
– Second baseman Jeff McNeil went 2-for-3 with a double. The extra-base knock came against right-hander Walker Buehler. Outfielder Jose Siri hit his third home run of spring with a two-out, three-run shot off right-hander Liam Hendriks.