Santana denies report he will miss season

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Johan Santana denied a published report Sunday that said he is in danger of being shut down from rehabbing his surgically repaired shoulder and that his entire season is in jeopardy.

The Record of North Jersey, citing "one member of the Mets organization," said Santana "has not been progressing in his return to light throwing and the team is concerned enough to halt this section of his rehabilitation."

But Santana said that is not the case.

"I don't know who's saying that I'm not ready or whatever," he said. "According to everything the way it has been done, we're right on track and where we're supposed to be. So whoever is saying that I'm not ready, I think, is lying.

"We are all on the same page here, and I've been doing my job, doing my rehab and everything the way it's supposed to be done . . . It's going to take some time and we are all aware of that."

Santana had surgery in September to repair a torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder. The Mets hope he can return by midseason, and Santana said that timetable hasn't changed.

"It's a long process," he said. "It's going to take time and I'm aware of that."

Santana, who turned 32 on Sunday, started in spring training by playing catch at 45 feet every other day. Now he's playing catch at 60 feet on back-to-back days with two days off in between. His next day to play catch will be Tuesday.

"I feel a little better," he said. "Actually, we've made some improvements . . . I still have to go slow because whatever you're wanting to do regardless, your arm is going to tell you something else. That's why this process is very slow."

Pitching coach Dan Warthen did not expect to begin his day getting asked about Santana.

"Everything is progressing exactly the way it's supposed to," he said. "I was very surprised to hear any of that."

Asked if he has had a setback since spring training began, Santana said: "How can you have a setback at this point when I'm just beginning to throw? I haven't even gotten on a mound, I haven't even forced my body to throw hard. It's just a slow process and I'm just doing it with precaution."

Santana, who began throwing in early February, said he has felt some "regular soreness" in the shoulder but not pain.

"I've had pain before," he said. "I know the difference between pain and soreness. As of right now, you go through a process where you have to build everything up. Your arm and your shoulder's weak and you know that you have to overcome that. It takes time, and that's why this is a very slow process. That's what we're doing right now."

"There are going to be days you're going to feel good. There are days you're not going to be so good. But that doesn't mean that you're done."

Santana thought the big news was going to be that he joined Twitter on Saturday. His first Tweet at @johansantana was, "Im finally on @twitter! Let's have some fun!"

Later on Saturday, he Tweeted: "Thanks for the kind words. Rehab is going great. Can't wait to get back on the mound!!!"

Apparently, he meant it.