The Mets are almost 20 games out of first place in the NL East, but that isn't stopping center-fielder Carlos Beltran from fighting his way back into the lineup from a bone bruise on his knee.
On Wednesday, Beltran stood in as designated hitter for the Single-A Brooklyn Cyclones — his first appearance since June 22.
"I'm feeling good. I'm not 100 percent for sure, but I did everything I had to in Port St. Lucie. Everything went fine. That's why I'm here,'' Beltran told the New York Post before facing Hudson Valley.
In his first at-bat, Beltran proved he hasn't missed a beat by smoking an RBI-single up the middle. Although an MRI revealed that the bone bruise is still there, the five-time All-Star could return to the big leagues early next week. Other players would think twice about returning this late in the season and this far out of the playoff race, but not Beltran.
"A lot of people are telling me, 'Why don't you sit back for the rest of the season?' I don't want to sit back; I'm a ballplayer," Beltran said. "Your job is being able to rehab yourself, and if that's the last game of the season, then play the last game of the season. That's what we get paid for."
