Mets News: Travis d'Arnaud cleared to begin minor league rehab assignment this week

Top Mets prospect Travis d'Arnaud has been cleared to begin a minor league rehab assignment and will play in his first game on Thursday. He broke a bone in his left foot playing for the team's Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas when he fouled a ball off of it on April 17.

2013 Mid-Season Top 25 Mets Prospects

(Photo: Bryan Green)

Originally scheduled to miss eight weeks, d'Arnaud's return to game action has been a slow one. In just 12 games to start the season, he hit .250/.429/.472. While he only hit one home run in that span, d'Arnaud drew most of his power from the five doubles he hit. He hit .333/.380/.595 with 16 home runs in 303 plate appearances for Vegas—then the Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliate—last year. Rob Castellano ranked d'Arnaud second on Amazin' Avenue's mid-season list of top Mets prospects.

The Mets reportedly plan to play d'Arnaud in Port St. Lucie for a few games before sending him to continue playing in Vegas. The general consensus seems to be that he won't be in the big leagues until September, but the Mets could use some help behind the plate. John Buck's 89 wRC+ ranks 25th among the 49 catchers with at least 100 plate appearances this year.