The New York Mets received encouraging news on infielder Mark Vientos, who is nearing a return after missing nearly two months with a fractured right hand.
Vientos began a minor-league rehab assignment on Aug. 21, roughly six weeks after a Michael Wacha pitch struck him on the hand. He did not need surgery and will get work at both first and third base during his rehab stint.
The Mets expect Vientos to return sometime next week after he gets several games under his belt in the minors. Before his injury, he was batting .211 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs this season.
Vientos was clearly frustrated by the setback after initially realizing something was wrong when his hand became numb and swollen following the hit-by-pitch.
The 2017 second-round pick has endured a difficult season, making his upcoming return especially important for New York.
Meanwhile, the Mets are having a disappointing campaign and are already out of playoff contention. They recently defeated the Chicago White Sox 10-5, with Luis Robert Jr. hitting two home runs against his former club, but New York remains 59-71 with one of MLB’s worst records.
