The New York Mets have placed outfielder Michael Conforto and infielder Jeff McNeil on the 10-day injured list, after both suffered hamstring injuries in Sunday's loss to the Rays in Tampa.
To replace them on the roster, the Mets recalled outfielder Khalil Lee from Triple-A Syracuse, and also purchased the contract of outfielder Johneshwy Fargas from Triple-A. To accommodate Fargas on the 40-man roster, the team transferred RHP Seth Lugo to the 60-day injured list.
McNeil, who was the Mets' DH on Sunday, had been battling some left hamstring tightness all week, but then felt something more as he beat out an infield single in the first inning of Sunday's game. He stayed in to run the bases, but he was replaced in his second at-bat by Patrick Mazeika.
"Nothing bad. It was just something we have to take a look at," McNeil said after the game. "I don't think it's anything major. It's just some tightness. I really didn't feel a pull. It's something we have to take a look at and get through."
Conforto, meanwhile, grounded into a double play to end that first inning, and when the Mets came out in the second, he was replaced in right field by Jake Hager, who had just been called up from Triple-A on Saturday, after feeling some tightness in his right hamstring.
"Very frustrating. That is the only way I can put it. Very frustrating," Conforto said of his injury Monday.
Hager is a middle infielder by trade who has limited experience in the outfield, but the Mets' bench at the time was down to Hager and two catchers in Mazeika and Tomas Nido, so Rojas was forced to make some creative moves.
Conforto had an MRI Monday morning that, as of the afternoon, was still being looked at by multiple physicians, and so there's no timetable as of yet.
"Right now, hamstring issues are no joke. We want to see what comes back (with the MRIs) and the severity of those," Mets manager Luis Rojas said after Sunday's game. "When you talk about hamstrings, you're definitely concerned. It takes a few days. First, we want to have those results back and then we can start talking about a timeline or what kind of approach we're gonna take starting tomorrow."
The injuries add to an already deep Mets injured list, as the team is without Brandon Nimmo (finger), J.D. Davis (hand), Albert Almora Jr. (shoulder), and Luis Guillorme (oblique) on the position player side, with three starters – Jacob deGrom, Carlos Carrasco, and Noah Syndergaard – and Lugo also down.
Davis, however, is expected to begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday, so he could be close to returning, but as of now, the only position player on the Mets' 40-man roster who is not injured or on the 25-man roster is catcher Deivy Grullon, who is at Triple-A.
With four starters out of the lineup plus two key reserves, Rojas will have to lean on a group that includes a lot of nominal reserves and youngsters, but he believes the Mets can thrive.
"It's adversity at its best. We got some of our best hitters down right now, but there's depth. And I always praise the front office for having guys that can come in and play and give a tough at-bat," Rojas said of the Mets' situation. "We have guys that can come up when it's needed. Guys like that, they're ready and looking for their opportunities. So they'll get it in the next couple series, and I know they're gonna help us win some games."
Lee, 22, was acquired from Kansas City in the three-way deal that sent Andrew Benintendi from Boston to the Royals, and was hitting .250 in six games at Triple-A. He was with the Mets for a few days last week but did not play, so he will make his MLB debut when he does appear in a game.
Fargas, 26, had spent his entire career in the Giants organization before signing a minor-league deal with the Mets last season, and spending 2020 at the Alternate Site. He has hit .242 in eight games with Syracuse so far this season.
Lugo has missed the entire season due to an elbow injury, and while he is likely to start a rehab assignment this week, the Mets plan to build him up as a multi-inning reliever, so not being eligible to return until May 31 at the earliest allows the Mets more time to maneuver Lugo.
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