WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -– Brian Schneider finally got back in the Mets’ lineup, and now the catcher doesn’t want to come out.

Sidelined for almost the entire Grapefruit League schedule by a strained right hamstring, Schneider returned to action today for the first time since early March and caught Mets starter Oliver Perez.

Schneider played five innings behind the plate, throwing out a runner before giving way to Raul Casanova. Schneider also went 0-for-2 at the plate, including a grounder that turned into a double play.

Schneider said afterward that his hamstring felt so good that he wants to play in all of the Mets’ final seven exhibition games. That appears unlikely, although the Amazin’s are down two catchers because of Ramon Castro’s sore hamstring and Robinson Cancel’s knee surgery.