LAKELAND, Fla. -- Reliever Noel Salas made his first Grapefruit League appearance after visa issues kept him from returning from Mexico, where he pitched in the World Baseball Classic.
Salas gave up one hit and threw a wild pitch in two-thirds of an inning in the Mets' 5-1 loss to Detroit, but he settled down to retire the final two batters he faced.
• Salas joins Mets camp after visa issue resolved
Manager Terry Collins said it looked like Salas hadn't "been out there in a while," but that will change in the final two weeks of spring. He only pitched one inning for Mexico in the Classic, and Collins will need to get him more work to prepare him for one of the primary setup roles out of the bullpen.
"It's good to get him back and out there," Collins said. "He's going to get a bunch of work here in the next 10 days. [Our guys] are coming back. [Hansel] Robles is back. We'll get those guys tuned up and let them battle it out."
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Robles and Jeurys Familia are also back from the Classic, and Collins said that he just wants to keep them on a smart schedule leading up to Opening Day.
"They have both thrown enough in the WBC," Collins said. "I saw Robles in three of the games, I don't know how many total he got in. They just need to continue to do their work. Those guys are ready to go, and with the competition they have faced in the WBC, they are game-ready."
Third baseman/shortstop Jose Reyes is also returning to camp after playing with the Dominican Republic in the Classic. Collins said Reyes' return should allow him to use most of his expected everyday lineup for the final two weeks.
"We're going to run guys out there," Collins said. "it's all about at-bats right now. They are swinging good right now and they are game-ready, so it's just about making sure they get out there and keep them in the game longer so they build up endurance. But they are ready right now."