Cano on Ortiz: 'My prayers to him and his family'
NEW YORK -- For nine seasons, David Ortiz and Robinson Canó played against each other in the American League East, two stars of one of sports’ biggest rivalries. They became friends, given their shared heritage as Dominicans. Cano, who is seven years Ortiz’s junior, grew up admiring the Red Sox slugger.
Like so many in baseball, Cano was crushed to hear that Ortiz was shot in the Dominican Republic on Sunday, but heartened to learn that he was in stable condition and headed to Boston for continued care.
“His presence is always going to be the same, no matter if he’s retired or if he’s still playing,” Cano said Monday, referring to Ortiz as a big brother. “He’s an idol for all of us, a guy who represents the country. We all know what he does with his foundation, so many lives that he’s saved. He’s still doing it. He’s an idol for all of us.”
Cano is from San Pedro de Macoris, barely an hour east of Ortiz’s hometown in Santo Domingo. The two speak often; just recently, Ortiz invited Cano to come visit a new home that he purchased.
Cano called the shooting “sad,” as well as a warning for all Dominican baseball players to exercise caution in their home country. For millions of Dominicans, Cano has become every bit the icon that Ortiz was during his playing career.
“Thank God that he’s stable,” Cano said. “I can wish a speedy recovery for him, and all my prayers to him and his family.”
Mets outfielder Carlos Gomez, who is from Santiago, listed Ortiz alongside Carlos Beltran, Pedro Martinez and Jose Reyes as one of the foremost influences on his career.
“He’s a guy that any country wants to represent them,” Gomez said. “He’s a beautiful human being.”
Movin’ on up
Anthony Kay is only one step from the big leagues. The Mets on Monday promoted Kay, their seventh-ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline, from Double-A Binghamton to Triple-A Syracuse, after he went 7-3 with a 1.49 ERA at the lower level.
The team also promoted reliever Ryley Gilliam, who began this year at Class A Advanced St. Lucie, to Syracuse. Gilliam, the Mets’ fifth-round Draft pick in 2018 and their 20th-ranked prospect, struck out 28 batters with a 4.34 ERA over 18 2/3 innings at Binghamton.
Both players could conceivably help the Mets later this summer, though Kay -- a former first-round Draft pick from the same Long Island high school as Steven Matz -- is particularly intriguing given his upside. Scouts believe Kay could help the Mets in the short term as a reliever, even while his long-term ceiling is as a starter with three above-average pitches. Kay struck out 70 batters in 66 1/3 innings at Binghamton.
From the trainer’s room
Syracuse will play host to three veteran Mets on Tuesday, with Cano, outfielder Brandon Nimmo and reliever Justin Wilson all scheduled to travel there on Minor League rehab assignments.
Cano, who is recovering from an aggravation of the left quad strain he initially suffered last month, could come off the injured list when first eligible on Sunday. Before activating Cano, the Mets want to make sure he is capable of playing a full nine-inning game without any issues.
Wilson, who has been battling left elbow soreness since mid-April, will pitch in a game for the first time since May 6. He threw live batting practice over the weekend, declaring his arm in better shape than the last time he tried to return from the IL.
Nimmo is the only one of the three who was already on a rehab assignment, playing for St. Lucie as he recovers from a bulging cervical disk and the effects of whiplash. The Mets advanced his assignment to Syracuse, with hopes that Nimmo will feel no ill effects as he tries to play the field for the first time since landing on the IL. Nimmo’s timeline is the least certain of the three.