New York Mets left-hander Jon Niese, projected as the team’s opening-day starter, is going to New York for tests on his sore pitching shoulder.
Niese was bothered earlier this week by discomfort during spring training in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and the team decided to send him for a a precautionary MRI. Manager Terry Collins said Niese felt pain after a live batting practice session but cautioned that the problem could be in the triceps area and not the shoulder.
“I wanted to keep it quiet,” Niese told ESPNNewYork.com. “It’s just a precautionary thing to make sure it’s not worse from last year. I just want peace of mind.”
Last season, Niese spent from June 21 to Aug. 11 on the disabled list with a partial tear in his rotator cuff. He managed to make 24 starts in 2013, posting an 8-8 record with a 3.71 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 143 innings.