Mets right-hander Sean Manaea continues to progress well from his right oblique strain after experiencing discomfort while ramping up his throwing that caused him to be shut down for two weeks.
Manaea threw off the mound for the first time in his recovery process, getting up to 15 pitches, manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters before Monday’s game between the Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates.
It’s a huge step toward a return to the big league club for Manaea, who signed a three-year, $75 million deal to return to New York during the offseason.
Meanwhile, Paul Blackburn is also nearing a return to the Mets as the right-hander will pitch again on Friday for Triple-A Syracuse, per Mendoza.
“I think he was four [innings], 65 [pitches],” Mendoza said. “I’m not sure what’s the pitch count, we’re waiting to check with him when he gets in here today and tomorrow. But the plan is for him to make another rehab [start] on Friday.”
Blackburn is coming off his second rehab start for Triple-A on Sunday where he allowed three earned runs on four hits in three innings. He walked three and struck out two.
When asked if Friday’s start will be the last one before Blackburn returns to the majors, Mendoza said “we’ll see.”
“We gotta see how he’s feeling today and the next couple of days and then we’ll go from there,” the skipper added.
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