ATLANTA (AP) -Pedro Martinez will rejoin the New York Mets for a bullpen session Wednesday as he looks forward to returning from an ailing hamstring.
But he’s not sure if he’ll pitch beyond 2008.
After his latest rehab assignment in Port St. Lucie, Fla., Martinez told the Daily News he was might retire after this season to be with his ailing father.
Manager Willie Randolph doesn’t know whether Martinez has made a final decision.
“I didn’t talk to him about it or really know about it,” Randolph said. “I know his dad has been ill and he’s been going back and forth trying to struggle with that. But I haven’t talked to him about it, so I don’t know if it’s really true or not.”
Martinez’s 78-year-old father, Pablo, has a form of brain cancer.
“It’s taking a toll on me and my family, my dad’s situation,” Pedro Martinez told the New York newspaper. “That’ll probably drag me away from the game a little sooner than people expect. After this season, I’m going to go back home and think about it and I’m going to decide.”
The 36-year-old right-hander has been on the disabled list since April 2 with a hamstring injury. In his latest rehab appearance, he pitched 4 1-3 innings and threw 77 pitches against St. Louis’ minor leaguers. He allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and topped out at 90 mph on the radar gun.
He’ll throw a bullpen session at Turner Field before New York’s game against the Braves on Wednesday.
“It will be nice to see him, see how he’s doing,” Randolph said. “He’ll come in and be Pedro, loosen the guys up a little.”
Martinez could return for the Mets before the end of the month, possibly for a series against the Los Angeles Dodgers from May 29-31. The pitcher suggested it might be even earlier.
“He’s close to where he wants to be. He’s feeling pretty good,” said Randolph, who is eager to get a firsthand look at Martinez’s progress.
“You can just see the crispness of his pitches, his arm action, those kinds of things, the action on his changeup,” the manager added. “Just seeing him here gives you a better idea.”
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AP freelance writer Amy Jinker-Lloyd contributed to this report.
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