Mets get 'positive' news on J.D. Davis' shoulder, but Brandon Nimmo undergoes heart test
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Wednesday was a busy day of doctor visits for Mets outfielders, but it’s not clear what any of the resulting information will mean.
Centerfielder Brandon Nimmo was removed from the Mets’ lineup shortly before they played the Astros so he could get his heart tested. The Mets stressed that it was precautionary and offered little additional information, other than to say that it came as a recommendation from the team cardiologist based on something found in Nimmo’s standard preseason physical.
Leftfielder/third baseman J.D. Davis, meanwhile, was relieved that his left shoulder injury seems not to be serious, but he was surprised to learn of an existing tear in his labrum.
General manager Brodie Van Wagenen said that represented a “positive” update for Davis, though he still will be out for at least a week. Davis said he was not concerned about his readiness for Opening Day, which is March 26.
An MRI “didn’t show a ton of inflammation” and “really didn’t show any new structural damage” after Davis jammed his shoulder when diving for a groundball Tuesday, according to Van Wagenen.
“He’s a little achy today afterwards, but achy is a good feeling relative to where we could have been,” Van Wagenen said. “So we’ll see how that achiness responds and hopefully we get him on a good track.
“We’re going to see how his symptoms progress here over the course of the next couple of days, get him moving and hopefully be able to have a better handle after the next week in terms of what his physical activity will be able to be.”
Davis added: “Just a little achy, a little sore, which is expected. No sharp pains. I have full range in my shoulder right now. It’s just a little weak, but I’m good.”
Davis began rehabbing his shoulder Wednesday upon returning to the Mets’ spring training facility. How he responds to that treatment will determine when he starts playing again.
“We’ll reassess in a week before we think about putting him back in games,” Van Wagenen said.
Van Wagenen specified that there was no “new” structural damage because the MRI did show what appeared to be an old labrum injury. He characterized that as “fairly common” for players “who have some experience or mileage on them.”
“He wasn’t symptomatic of anything beforehand,” Van Wagenen said. “This sounds like we’re in a pretty good spot overall.”
Davis said he had no previous knowledge of such an issue.
“Over time, we all get wear and tear,” Davis said. “I was never aware of that, never had no symptoms of it, which is a relief. Because he said I had a little tear but it looked like an old injury, so I was instantly relieved about it.”
After his strong 2019, Davis is a potential middle-of-the-order bat for the Mets, slated to receive near-everyday at-bats in leftfield for at least as long as Yoenis Cespedes (recovering from a broken ankle and heel surgeries) remains unavailable. In camp, he has split his time about evenly between third base — his natural position — and leftfield.
That can resume soon if this episode really is only a minor issue.
“When you’re recommended an MRI it’s kind of a little scary,” Davis said. “You’re wishing there’s no structural damage or anything. Shoulders can be tricky and everything, so first day, it’s going to be rehabbing and go from there and progress back to baseball activities.”
