NEW YORK -- One of the Mets' few bright spots this season, and one of the National League's most effective players at reaching base safely, Brandon Nimmo has made getting hit by pitches a part of his game. Twelve times this season, he has been plunked -- 13 if you count one instance he was not awarded earlier this month.
But the most recent plunking could have a lasting effect. Nimmo departed Sunday's 8-7 loss to the Dodgers after six innings due to a sore right pinkie finger. X-rays were negative, but Nimmo will go for an MRI on Monday to ensure that nothing is broken.
"It's positive news when you hear that it's negative, but I do understand that there's a lot of small bones and ligaments and stuff like that in the hand," Nimmo said. "It did hit on a rather small part of the hand. I'm optimistic, because it's not what I think a broken bone would feel like. But there's a lot of small bones in there, with not a lot of padding."
A burgeoning All-Star candidate, Nimmo was hit by two Rich Hill pitches in the game. The first was a 70-mph curveball that caused no long-term harm. The second was an 87-mph cutter that sent Nimmo to the ground in pain. After a lengthy discussion with trainer Brian Chicklo and manager Mickey Callaway, Nimmo remained in the game, but he exited an inning and a half later after testing his grip strength in the clubhouse.
If Nimmo, who is batting .283 with a .974 OPS, misses additional time, it will further deplete the Mets' already threadbare outfield. Juan Lagares is out for the season and Yoenis Cespedes is not due back from the disabled list any time soon. Aside from Nimmo, the Mets' only healthy outfielders are Michael Conforto and Jose Bautista. The team recently moved first baseman Dominic Smith to left field and has been starting him regularly at that position.