DENVER — The anticipated return of a key Mets reliever has been placed on hold.
A.J. Minter is dealing with left hip discomfort, according to manager Carlos Mendoza, and has been removed from his minor league rehab assignment.
The lefty reliever was completing a rehab at Triple-A Syracuse from lat surgery and was days away from potentially rejoining the club.
“We’re not too concerned, but we’ll probably give him a couple or few days and then he will continue to throw,” Mendoza said before the Mets’ 10-5 win over the Rockies on Wednesday.
Minter was scheduled to pitch back-to-back games for the first time in his rehab beginning Wednesday, the last hurdle before rejoining the Mets.
“He’s not too concerned, but the fact he reported it we’re doing that,” Mendoza said.
Minter, who arrived before last season on a two-year contract worth $22 million, hasn’t pitched for the Mets since April 2025.
The Mets can reset Minter’s rehab clock, giving him another 30 days in the minor leagues if needed once he’s cleared to resume pitching.
Luis Torrens started at catcher for a second straight game with Francisco Alvarez at DH. Mendoza said the fact Juan Soto has returned to playing left field provides the flexibility to use Torrens (the superior defensive catcher) and Alvarez (the better hitter of the two) in the same lineup.
But Soto will still receive occasional DH starts — one is planned for Thursday’s series finale — after spending time last month on the injured list with a right calf strain.
Mendoza may often use Torrens and Alvarez in the same lineup until the Mets begin getting injured players back.
“It depends on matchups,” Mendoza said. “Do you want the lefties? Day games after night games, how many in a row, Juan’s ability to continue to play [left field] on a daily basis. There’s a lot that goes into it.”
Kodai Senga has begun playing catch in his rehab from lumbar spine inflammation, according to Mendoza. The right-hander received an epidural on the last homestand.
Though Jorge Polanco continues to participate in baseball activities pregame, he isn’t close to beginning a minor league rehab assignment, according to Mendoza. Polanco is rehabbing a right wrist contusion.
Mendoza said he spent Tuesday’s off-day created by inclement weather watching video of his players.
“A lot of baseball,” he said. “There’s not much to do.”