Christian Scott begins throwing, hopes to join Mets for stretch run
The Mets' Christian Scott delivers a pitch during the first inning of a game against the Marlins on July 22 in Miami. Credit: AP/Wilfredo Lee
Christian Scott wants to be part of it all, and Tuesday afternoon, he got one step closer.
As the Mets stare down the gullet of the last seven weeks of the regular season, Scott, who went down with an ominous-sounding UCL sprain last month, has finally resumed throwing. And the tentative goal is to be part of this team’s playoff push as they try to fight their way into one of the three wild card spots. The Mets entered the day one game out of the third spot, with Atlanta right ahead of them.
After throwing off flat ground at 60 feet Sunday, he was at Citi Field Tuesday afternoon throwing from 75 feet — all fastballs, and all with the eye of eventually getting stretched out to 120 “with intensity” before moving to mound work, Carlos Mendoza said.
“I love to do what I do [and] it’s a really exciting time,” said Scott, who declined to put a firm timeline on his return. “This team is making a push for the playoffs and, hopefully, I can be a part of that. I’m just taking it day by day and excited about the process for sure . . . I’m attacking every day as if I can go out and help this team in the playoffs and later in the season — attacking my days like that, but, you know, also being smart and taking it day by day and not trying to look too much in the future and try to focus on the present.”
Scott, who also missed 3 ½ weeks last year due to UCL issues, has seemingly avoided Tommy John surgery for now, and said he hopes to progress to 90 feet Wednesday. After that, he’ll begin mixing in breaking and offspeed pitches in an attempt to get ready for a stretch run.
Before getting hurt, the rookie was 0-3 with a 4.56 ERA and 1.20 WHIP, but showed sparks of something better — both with his results in the minor leagues this year, and in very strong starts against the Rays and Pirates.
“We have to wait and see how he continues to progress and then hopefully, he’s part of the team towards the end,” Mendoza said.
Caution, though, is understandable, since a UCL rupture — and subsequent Tommy John — would cost Scott his 2025 season.
“I’m taking it day by day,” Scott said. “But I’m feeling good now.”
Scott isn’t the only pitcher inching toward a return. Dedniel Nunez (forearm) threw his second bullpen in three days Tuesday, and could feasibly begin a rehab assignment next week, Mendoza said. An unexpected (and formidable) weapon in the bullpen this year, Nunez has a 2.43 ERA and has struck out 45 batters in 33 1⁄3 innings — a rate of 12.15 strikeouts per nine.
Nunez will either throw another bullpen or live batting practice before the Mets decide when and where he’ll begin his rehab assignment.
Marte in the mend, Vientos too
Starling Marte (knee) continued with his rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse Tuesday night and could rejoin the club as soon as this weekend. Mark Vientos (ankle) was out of the starting lineup for the second game in a row Tuesday against the A’s, but pinch hit in the third inning for J.D. Martinez, who was hit by a pitch in the second.
Home cooking
After a brutal western travail that saw the Mets play 10 games in 10 days in four cities, they finally returned home hoping to gain some traction against the A’s and Marlins, who are both well under .500.
“I think the biggest thing is adjusting to the east coast schedule as quickly as possible — waking up at a certain time, taking a nap on an off day when you need it, trying to go back to bed at a decent time,” Mendoza said. “This is part of the schedule, part of being in the big leagues . . . The guys are in good shape, in good spirits and ready to go.”
He also didn’t blame the travel for their woeful series against the Mariners — a three-game sweep that saw the Mets get outscored 22-1.
“It happened,” he said. “We ran into a team that was hot at the time. We know they can pitch and they were on and they got us. I think I said it the last day in Seattle, they outplayed us. It’s time for us to come home and start playing some winning baseball. It’s part of the schedule and every team has got to go through it. We’ve got a homestand and we’ve got to go back [to the west coast]. Good teams find a way and we’ll find a way to get in the win column.”
Rosario signed
The Mets signed 10-year veteran outfielder Eddie Rosario to a minor-league contract, a source confirmed. Rosario, 32, hit .175 this year and was designated for assignment by Atlanta on August 8. He slashed .255/.305/.450 last year, and has a .262 career average. He’ll report to Triple-A Syracuse.
Laura Albanese is a reporter, feature writer and columnist covering local professional sports teams; she began at Newsday in 2007 as an intern.
