PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The Mets are eyeing Wednesday or Thursday for Lucas Duda to return from a left-hamstring injury that has kept him out of Grapefruit League play for a week.
Lucas Duda
#21 1B
New York Mets
2013 STATS
- GM100
HR15
RBI33
R42
OBP.352
- AVG.223
Duda was encouraged after taking batting practice in a cage Monday.
Meanwhile, Terry Collins said he hoped Ike Davis would be able to serve as a designated hitter on the minor-league side by the weekend. Collins readily acknowledged, though, that it was merely a hope.
Davis has been idle for a week and is now wearing a walking boot on his right foot because of a calf strain.
“When he did it, he tried to play. He thought it was something that was going to go away in two days,” Collins said. “And here we are five days out, it’s just not getting better very fast. So it’s a little bit of a concern. The trainers did say, ‘Look, he feels better.’ The boot, as we all know, is a precaution. It does help the healing process.
“So if, by the weekend, he can get in the batter’s box where we can get him in some minor-league games and get him to DH, we’re moving forward. That’s the only way he’s going to get the at-bats he’s going to need, is to get multiple at-bats down there.”