At least the Mets don’t have to worry about an overcrowded outfield anymore. At one point, they had four players for three spots, but that number was cut in half Sunday.
With Michael Conforto (bruised left hand) already on the disabled list, Curtis Granderson was added to the team’s already high number of health concerns with a sore right hip that kept him out of the lineup Sunday. He wasn’t available to pinch hit, either, after it didn’t “feel right” while swinging a bat after getting treatment.
Following the Mets’ 7-1 loss to the Phillies at Citi Field, Granderson said the hip isn’t necessarily tight but “more discomfort with a little bit of pain.”
“I saw the doctors. Everything is day-to-day,” he said. “They said, ‘It’s going to be how you feel coming to the ballpark each day.’ ”
The red-hot Granderson, who produced a through-the-roof .316/.442/.711 slash line with eight home runs and 15 RBIs in June, said the hip started bothering him at home late Saturday night. He told manager Terry Collins it was an issue when he got to the ballpark Sunday morning.
The 36-year-old Granderson isn’t sure how he hurt the hip. He watched video of the game Saturday to try to find out, but there wasn’t a play that stood out.
The injury couldn’t come at a worse time for the Mets, who already are down Conforto and begin a crucial three-game series Monday in Washington. Yoenis Cespedes also is struggling mightily and is in the midst of a 4-for-29 skid. Granderson did some stretching movements Sunday to test the hip, and there was no pain or discomfort that was “over the top.” He felt it more when he tried to follow through on his swing.
“Hopefully [on Monday] it will be better and get me to a better situation,” Granderson said.
Brandon Nimmo replaced Granderson atop the lineup and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
Second baseman Neil Walker (partially torn left hamstring) said he is “close” to beginning a running program. Walker, who has been out since June 15, is hitting, throwing and fielding ground balls.
“[Running] will be the last hurdle,” he said.
Closer Addison Reed was unavailable after pitching in the previous three games. …. The Mets fell to 4-9 in day games at Citi Field. … Reliever Neil Ramirez had a clean appearance for the first time in his Mets career, spanning 16 outings. He retired all four batters he faced.
On the first day of the international signing period, the Mets locked up Dominican Republic shortstop Ronny Maurico, the 10th-ranked prospect according to MLBPipeline.com. He was reportedly given a $2.1 million signing bonus, the largest figure the Mets have given to an international prospect, surpassing the $1.75 million bonus they gave to Amed Rosario five years ago. They also signed Dominican Republic outfielder Adrian Hernandez, ranked 18th by MLB Pipeline, to a reported $1.5 million.