Injury updates
Now that we’re a few weeks into the season, we’re beginning to see players coming and going from the disabled list. Here are a few noteworthy players that have had some injury issues early in 2010:
Reese Havens, 2B/SS, Double-A Binghamton – After playing every game in his three years at South Carolina, Havens has suffered through one nagging injury after another in his year-and-a-half in pro ball. This year’s ailment has been a strained oblique, which is a particularly difficult injury for hitters to overcome, given the pressure put on your sides during a swing. When I asked Mets farm director Adam Wogan about Havens last week, he said the middle infielder is in extended spring training, and should be back soon.
As a 22-year-old in High-A last year, Havens hit .247 with 14 homers and 52 RBI in 97 games, and, with a good year, could put himself in play for the Mets’ second base job as soon as 2011, depending on what happens with Luis Castillo.
Brad Holt, RHP, Double-A Binghamton – Holt made his first appearance of 2010 Saturday, allowing one run on three hits in two innings, striking out two and walking one. The 6-foot-4 right-hander will hope to bounce back from a rough stint with Binghamton (3-6, 6.21) last year, though that was mostly attributed to an ankle injury in his Double-A debut.
Jordany Valdespin, 2B/SS, High-A St. Lucie – Valdespin was hitting .300 with two homers and seven RBI through April 20 for St. Lucie before going on the shelf. He had a crazy 2009 season, playing for four different farm teams – Low-A Savannah, the Mets’ Dominican Summer League and Gulf Coast league affiliates and short-season Brooklyn.
Manny Banuelos, LHP, High-A Tampa – Banuelos has yet to make a start this season, reportedly because of an appendectomy. The left-hander launched himself up the prospect charts after a dominating first full season as an 18-year-old for Low-A Charleston, going 9-5 with a 2.67 ERA in 25 games (19 starts), striking out 104 and walking 28 in 108 innings.
Andrew Brackman, RHP, High-A Tampa – The massive enigma that is Brackman has continued to frustrate and disappoint in 2010. The 6-foot-10 right-hander, whom the Yankees gve a $3.35 million signing bonus as a first-round pick in 2007, lost both of his starts before going on the disabled list, allowing 13 runs (12 earned) on 16 hits in eight innings, striking out five and walking one. This was after going 2-12 with a 5.91 ERA in 29 games (19 starts) for Low-A Charleston last year.
Bradley Suttle, 3B, High-A Tampa – After missing all of last season because of shoudler surgery, Suttle is back playing every day for High-A Tampa this year, hitting .239 with a homer and four RBI through 18 games. The switch-hitting third baseman hit .271 with 11 home runs and 44 RBI in 96 games for Low-A Charleston in 2008.
tbontemps@nypost.com
