Travis d'Arnaud can't throw yet but should start a rehab assignment soon

Injured Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud played DH in an extended spring training game today in Florida, but is still far from being ready to throw. It's widely expected that d'Arnaud will begin a rehab assignment with the St. Lucie Mets this week, but he will be playing DH during his time there.

Last week, Mets' assistant GM John Ricco told reporters that d'Arnaud has resumed throwing and would be joining St. Lucie this week, but today Terry Collins said that d'Arnaud is "a ways away" from throwing. Just when d'Arnaud will be ready to return to the majors is anyone's guess.

d'Arnaud has been injured frequently during his career, and was not having a great start to his season before going down with his current shoulder injury on April 26. He was hitting just .198/.288/.261 before being placed on the disabled list. d'Arnaud has been rehabbing in California but has also flown back and forth to New York, where he received a plasma injection in his injured shoulder at the beginning of May.

In d'Arnaud's absence, Kevin Plawecki and Rene Rivera have been handling the catching duties. Neither of them have been particularly effective at the plate either; both are hitting below .200.

The Mets will have to hope d'Arnaud hits closer to last season's line of .268/.340/.485 upon his return.