Noah Syndergaard hurts non-throwing shoulder
New York Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard throws live batting practice during spring training baseball practice Monday, Feb. 24, 2014, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Credit: Newsday / Alejandra Villa
In his first start for Triple-A Las Vegas since being sidelined with an elbow injury, Mets top pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard injured his non-throwing shoulder Thursday night while covering the plate on a wild pitch.
According to the Mets, the 21-year-old righty has been sent for X-rays. As of late Thursday night, the results were pending, though the team called the injury "left shoulder discomfort resulting from a tag play at home plate."
Syndergaard previously pitched on May 21 before being diagnosed with a flexor pronator strain. He allowed three runs and three hits in two-thirds of an inning against Fresno Thursday night. He had thrown only 23 pitches at the time of his injury.
What can Brown do?
The Mets promoted righthanded-hitting outfielder Andrew Brown from Las Vegas and immediately slotted him in the starting lineup.
"We've put him in the middle there to see if he can do some damage," said manager Terry Collins, who reaped immediate benefits.
Brown hit a tying two-run homer in the seventh inning, though the Mets fell to the Cubs, 7-4.
The Mets still hope to find a righthanded bat capable of thriving in a bench or platoon role. Brown earned his latest chance by hitting .358 with 13 homers and 12 doubles after his April 21 demotion to Las Vegas.
Extra bases
Daniel Murphy did not start for the first time since missing the first two games of the season, when he witnessed the birth of his first child. He struck out as a pinch hitter in the sixth . . . Collins hinted that David Wright also is expected to get a day off. Wright has started all 60 of the team's games, though after the game, Wright said he and Collins hadn't spoken about a day off.
