The New York Mets were unable to debut their All-Star designated hitter J.D. Martinez due to lower back tightness. On March 24, Martinez signed a one-year, $12 million contract with the team after working out at their facility in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Carlos Mendoza, the Mets manager, revealed that Martinez had been experiencing similar lower back soreness following spring training last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Mendoza stated that Martinez had received a shot for the back tightness, as he did last year, and was optimistic based on how quickly he recovered then. However, Martinez would need two or three days to respond to treatment before they could determine when he can rejoin the team. Initially, Mendoza thought that Martinez was dealing with overall soreness, only to discover the specific issue with his lower back.
Despite being unable to play initially, Mendoza mentioned that Martinez might see some playing time in the outfield as well as his primary role as a designated hitter. To assess his progress, Martinez participated in two rehab games last weekend with Class A St. Lucia before being delayed further by the back tightness. Despite this setback, Mendoza assured that the situation was not overly concerning and the decision to address it promptly was made to ensure Martinez’s long-term health.
