Kevin Plawecki of the New York Mets has a broken left hand and is following fellow catcher Travis d'Arnaud to the disabled list.
Plawecki was hit by a pitch from Miami Marlins reliever Tayron Guerreroin the eighth inning Wednesday night. A postgame X-ray was negative, but an MRI in New York on Thursday showed a hairline fracture.
The Mets said before Friday's game against Milwaukee that Plawecki was going to the DL, retroactive to Thursday.
The Mets placed Plawecki on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to Thursday. The team said the injury will not require surgery. The Mets announced they expect him to be out 3-4 weeks.
the simultaneous injuries to both backstops put a massive damper on the team’s ML-best 10-1 start entering Friday’s home stand opener against Milwaukee.
The Mets were forced to summon veteran minor-league signing Jose Lobaton from Triple-A Las Vegas and also recalled outfielder Brandon Nimmo, too, while reliever Jacob Rhame was optioned back to Triple-A. The 33-year-old Lobaton spent the last four seasons with the Nationals. In 51 games last season, he batted only .170 with four homers and 11 RBIs. Lobaton will be added to the 40-man roster, with it likely David Wright or d’Arnaud is placed on the 60-day disabled list to clear roster space.
The Mets declined to sign a free-agent catcher this offseason, such as Jonathan Lucroy, who inked a one-year deal with Oakland. Former All-Star backstop Miguel Montero was designated for assignment by the Nationals earlier this week.
Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto, a career .280/.322/.428 hitter who has averaged 15 homers and 68 RBIs in four MLB seasons. He has been on the disabled list with a bruised back but is expected to return next week.
Realmuto won't come cheaply, however, and the Mets farm system already is thin of the kind of top-level prospects a rebuilding Marlins franchise would be seeking.
