Nido, Giménez placed on injured list
NEW YORK -- A flurry of roster moves awaited the Mets when they returned to Citi Field on Tuesday following five days away from the park due to multiple positive COVID-19 tests.
The team placed catcher Tomás Nido and infielder Andrés Giménez on the injured list for undisclosed reasons. To replace them, the Mets called up catcher Patrick Mazeika and outfielder Juan Lagares. They also added catcher Ali Sánchez as their 29th man for Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Marlins.
The Mets did not make any 40-man roster moves outside of adding Mazeika and Lagares.
Nido and Giménez were not the only uniformed personnel absent from Citi Field on Tuesday. Third-base coach Gary DiSarcina and bench coach Hensley Meulens were also away from the park for undisclosed reasons. First-base coach Tony DeFrancesco moved to third base for the day, while Minor League field coordinator Kevin Boles joined the staff as the temporary first-base coach. In addition, quality control coach Brian Schneider filled in for Meulens as bench coach.
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As per their policy, Mets officials declined comment on uninjured players and staff members not on site. Manager Luis Rojas did confirm that the Mets have not had any additional positive COVID-19 tests since one player and one staff member tested positive last Thursday.
“We’ve been very fortunate,” Rojas said, “because it could have been different.”
To that end, Rojas lauded the Mets’ following of coronavirus protocols both during their five-day quarantine and upon returning Tuesday to Citi Field. Outfielder Michael Conforto suggested the positive tests can serve as a “wake-up call” for teammates to become even stricter regarding their adherence to COVID-19 policies, though the consensus is that Mets players have already been meticulous.
“I’m encouraged that it didn’t spread within our clubhouse,” Conforto said. “So I’m not quite as worried about it being transmitted on the field. My contact with other players is pretty limited. If anything, I’m more worried about the number of games we’re going to be playing in such a short amount of time, if I’m worried about anything. We definitely have to take a look at this and really stick to our rules and regulations -- the things that we know will help us stay healthy as a group.”
Beginning Tuesday, the Mets are scheduled to play nine games in six days.
From the trainer’s room
Infielder Jeff McNeil was back at second base on Tuesday. McNeil had been in and out of the lineup since suffering a bone bruise in his left knee on Aug. 13, but he worked out Monday and “everything looked like Squirrel,” according to Rojas.
Backup center fielder Jake Marisnick (left hamstring strain) continues to play simulated games at the Mets’ alternate training site in Brooklyn. Marisnick has not played since July 28, prompting the Mets to call up Lagares over him on Tuesday.