The Mets infielder, who missed last season rehabbing from surgery to repair the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, still hasn’t progressed to the point he is ready to take that next step, according to Carlos Mendoza. Early in camp, Mendoza indicated there was hope Mauricio would be playing in games by mid-March.

Health hasn't been easy to come by for the New York Mets in spring training. After losing catcher Francisco Alvarez to a left hamate bone fracture, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters on Thursday that infielder Jeff McNeil would now miss three to four weeks with a strained right oblique.

The top prospect, who impressed in a brief stay in the majors in late 2023, is recovering from multiple knee surgeries.