Cano headed to Brooklyn for rehab assignment

PHILADELPHIA -- Robinson Canó is expected to join Class A Short-Season Brooklyn on Saturday for his first rehab game since sustaining a torn left hamstring on Aug. 4.

Cano, who was originally given a timetable of 6-12 weeks for a full recovery, remains ahead of even the most optimistic end of that spectrum. Saturday will be one day shy of just the four-week mark since the injury.

"He feels like he’s in a good spot," manager Mickey Callaway said. "The performance staff feels like he’s ready to do this. This is a big step for him."

Though Callaway did not offer a plan for Cano beyond Saturday, the second baseman will have limited opportunities to test his hamstring with Brooklyn. The Cyclones have just three games remaining after Friday -- home contests on Saturday and Monday around a road game in Staten Island on Sunday.

That said, the impending end to the Minor League season did not factor into the Mets' decision to send Cano on a rehab assignment.

"It’s not a chance we’re taking just because [the Minor League season is ending]," Callaway said. "I think it’s just the rehab process that he’s on and where he’s at and how he feels and what we’re seeing. I think it would have been the same even if we were midway through the season, because he feels like he’s in a really good spot with everything."

Cano also seemed to be in a good spot before landing on the injured list for the third time this season on Aug. 5. After hitting just .223 with four homers in his first 56 games with the Mets, the second baseman hit .307 with six homers, 15 RBIs and an .856 OPS in his last 30 contests before being placed on the IL. That included four consecutive multi-hit games, during which he went a combined 9-for-15 (.600) with four doubles and a homer to begin the month of August.

"It’s tough whenever you lose anybody, whether they’re going really well like he was or not going as well," Callaway said. "But it’s tough to lose a guy like Cano, because he’s a guy in our clubhouse that really matters and is very impactful. That always hurts."

The Mets will wait to see how Cano responds to game action before making any further decisions regarding his potential return.

While the end of the Minor League season could limit his potential rehab reps, the expanding September rosters could allow New York to activate Cano even if he is not yet ready to play a full nine innings. With teams allowed to carry up to 40 players on the active roster beginning Sunday, it's possible that Cano could rejoin the big league club and serve as a pinch-hitting option off the bench until he's ready to fully return.

In fact, Callaway said the same applies to any Mets player currently working his way back from the injured list. That includes outfielder Brandon Nimmo, who was scheduled to make another start for Triple-A Syracuse on Friday night before being reevaluated on Saturday.

"It might make more sense, at some point, just to get some of these guys up here to have them off the bench if they’re not ready to play a full nine or something like that," Callaway said. "Anybody in baseball, you’ve got to consider that at this point, because that’s what the schedule allows."