Opening Day is in jeopardy for Brandon Nimmo.
The Mets avoided the worst with the center fielder, who left a Grapefruit League game with a ankle injury Friday night. Imaging Saturday morning showed a low-grade sprain in his right knee and ankle, and he is considered week-to-week.
General manager Billy Eppler says the club is relieved to see no structural damage to Nimmo’s ankle or knee. A week-to-week timeline doesn’t sound promising and means he likely won’t be ready to start the season, but Eppler seemed to have some optimism with just under two weeks left in spring practice.
Nimmo was injured sliding into second base Friday night against the Miami Marlins at Clover Park. He appeared to lock up his left-handed knee, and manager Buck Showalter said Nimmo caught a spike on his ankle but was generally fine.
Without Nimmo, the Mets have a void to fill defensively in center field and at the top of the order. His on-base skills and speed, plus his ability to hit for some power from the left side, have made him a valuable hitter. The Mets’ outfield depth is somewhat thin with Tommy Pham and Tim Locastro, but Locastro brings speed, so Nimmo’s injury could open up a spot for him on the Major League team.
The Mets assigned two more players to minor league camp on Saturday, sending Jaylin Davis and Abraham Almonte to the other side of the complex.
In other injury news, lefty Jose Quintana underwent bone graft surgery on Friday and the procedure went well. It’s been a rough week for the Mets, the club seeing Quintana’s losses, right-handers Bryce Montes de Oca and Sam Coonrod, and closer Edwin Diaz. Nimmo’s injury is unfortunate, but the Mets are happy to know it’s only moderate.
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