Mets' Brandon Nimmo receives good news on right shoulder after MRI
Brandon Nimmo #9 of the Mets makes a diving catch to end the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. Credit: Jim McIsaac
The Mets got good news on Brandon Nimmo’s right shoulder MRI on Monday, manager Carlos Mendoza said.
“We’re just talking to the trainers,” Mendoza said before the Mets hosted the Orioles. “We got good news. MRI came back clean. So structure-wise, the shoulder’s in a good spot, good place. So I think this is just day to day.”
Nimmo was not in the lineup against lefthander Trevor Rogers as the Mets went with an all-righty batting order. After the Mets’ 4-3 victory, Mendoza said Nimmo was an option only as a pinch runner.
Nimmo called the injury “very minor” but said he didn’t swing or throw Monday. He hopes to Tuesday but isn’t sure when he will return to the lineup.
“Dodged a bullet,” he said. “To have the MRI confirm that makes me really happy.”
Nimmo was injured Sunday when he landed on his right shoulder while making a diving catch in the seventh inning. He left the game after batting in the bottom of the seventh and striking out after showing obvious discomfort.
On Sunday, Nimmo said: “It feels a little bit dead right now. I don’t really want to do much with it. Any time you do something with the shoulder, you’re concerned. The fact that I had to come out of a game, I don’t love. Sometimes these things can tighten up and protect itself right away and get better later. So that’s what I’m hoping for. We’ll see what we’re dealing with [Monday].”
The Mets’ good news on Nimmo came at about the same time as two of their National League wild-card competitors, Atlanta and Arizona, got some bad news on their injured players.
Atlanta’s Austin Riley will be 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 will leave 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 moves by first-year 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 be retained after the season.
Stearns has a policy of not commenting on front-office moves, a policy he reiterated at his most recent news conference on Friday when asked about the scouts’ departures.
Back to Williamsport
Mendoza said he is excited that the Mets have been chosen to play in the Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, against Seattle next Aug. 17.
The Mets played the Phillies in the special MLB event in 2018 in its second year of existence. The Yankees and Tigers played in the seventh Classic on Sunday, and during the broadcast, MLB executive Joe Torre announced the Mets-Mariners matchup for next year.
“I watched [Sunday night’s game] a little bit,” Mendoza said. “It’s pretty cool. I experienced a couple of those [special] games, the Field of Dreams game.
“Pretty special. And I think it’s cool when you are around so many kids that you know they’re looking up to their heroes, their superstars, and they’ve got their dreams.”
Mendoza was a coach with the Yankees when they played the White Sox in the first MLB at Field of Dreams game in Iowa in 2021.
Nunez close
Mendoza said reliever Dedniel Nunez (forearm strain) could be activated as soon as Friday in San Diego if his rehab outing on Tuesday night for Triple-A Syracuse goes well.
With David Lennon
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
