shortstop Jose Reyes has been cleared to resume baseball activities
after doctors determined his thyroid levels have returned to normal.
Reyes was diagnosed in early March with a
hyperactive thyroid, and doctors prescribed rest and a change in diet.
He was told to refrain from physical activity and was monitored and
tested weekly in New York.
After missing most of last season with a
hamstring injury, Reyes was pulled from stretching before what would
have been his spring training debut March 5 when team doctors decided
the abnormal results from his physical warranted further testing. He is
expected to return to Mets camp Wednesday.
"It's a good sign for us today, and hopefully
it will be a good sign for the rest of the year," Mets general manager
Omar Minaya said Tuesday. "Today is a good day."
Reyes appeared in just 36 games last season
because of the hamstring injury. His only game action since last May was
an intrasquad scrimmage just before the start of exhibition play.
Manager Jerry Manuel originally had said Reyes
likely would need 10 games in spring training to be ready for the start
of the season. But Minaya said Tuesday he did not want to speculate
about when Reyes will be ready to play in a game or whether he could be
ready for Opening Day.
"We still have two weeks, so let's see how
things go," Minaya said. "We are not going to say he is not going to be
ready, but let's see when he comes out here how he gets himself
prepared. The good thing is he came to camp in excellent shape.
"He is excited about being here; we are excited
about him being here. But as far as Opening Day goes, we don't know."
Minaya said Reyes will resume full workouts
Wednesday, even though his exercise regimen the last two weeks was
limited to walking on a treadmill.