Mets prospect Travis d'Arnaud has cast removed, to begin workouts tomorrow

Travis d'Arnaud, the Mets' catcher-of-the-near-future, has been cleared to begin workouts in Port St. Lucie in the near future. He broke a bone in his foot on April 17 while catching for Triple-A Las Vegas. It will likely be about four weeks before he plays in games, but this is certainly welcome news given John Buck's predictable recent regression and the lofty expectations for the 24-year-old d'Arnaud.

d'Arnaud was the centerpiece of the deal that sent R.A. Dickey to the Toronto Blue Jays and was widely regarded as the top catching prospect in baseball, having been rated sixth overall by MLB.com earlier this year. Injuries have been a concern, though, as d'Arnaud has suffered knee troubles in his short career as well. As the team's prospect with most offensive upside, the Mets will likely look to d'Arnaud soon if his rehab goes smoothly.

This welcome news comes as Noah Snydergaard, the pitcher acquired from the Jays along with d'Arnaud, earns rave reviews in St. Lucie.