PORT ST. LUCIE — Frank Francisco admitted he still has soreness in the right elbow that has sidelined him, but he isn’t ready to count himself out for Opening Day.
“I’m working really hard to be ready for April 1,” Francisco said after long-tossing yesterday. “You never know. I may give you a little surprise.”
The biggest surprise at this point would be a healthy Francisco to start the season. That goal remains elusive.
“I still feel soreness where they did the work,” Francisco said of his offseason elbow surgery. “But they told me it’s going to be like that for a while. … I’d rather take my time than lose another month.”
So it seems he will have to manage the discomfort if he intends to be on the mound anytime soon. He would like to throw a bullpen session over the weekend.
“Sometimes you’ve got to pitch through it,” Francisco said. “I’ve just got to wait and see that it doesn’t get inflamed or something. … I can handle soreness.”
After an ugly first season with the Mets, though, there’s little reason to think Francisco can be effective if his arm isn’t right.
“I’ve got to get my arm strength and throw a little more,” Francisco said. “I feel like I’m not loose in my whole body and don’t have my release point yet.”
* Zack Wheeler threw off a mound for the first time since suffering a strained oblique last week. He said it was the first time he had been pain-free since suffering the injury.
“I’m a little behind everybody else,” said Wheeler, who expects to rest the next two days. “I probably threw 70-75 percent. I let a few of them go to see how it felt and it felt good.”
* Jenrry Mejia is expected to be back in camp today with no limitations after going back to New York for tests related to his physical. “He’s ready to go,” manager Terry Collins said.
* Kirk Nieuwenhuis began running in a pool yesterday, something Collins called “a big step forward” for the center fielder who is dealing with a bone bruise to his left knee. … Daniel Murphy is expected to hit in the batting cage today as he rehabs from sore ribs.
