PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) -New York Mets ace Johan Santana wants the ball on opening day.
Santana threw 46 pitches off a mound early Wednesday in his most ambitious and productive bullpen session since the start of spring training, and made it clear he wants to start for New York on April 6 in Cincinnati despite concerns over his tender elbow.
“I appreciate everything they’re doing trying to protect me and trying to keep me healthy,” Santana said. “But I’m a professional and I know exactly what it takes for me to be ready. I’ve been doing this for years now and I know exactly what I have to do and I’m pretty sure I’ll be ready for opening day.”
Santana has an irritated triceps tendon that has caused discomfort in his throwing elbow.
The two-time Cy Young winner has yet to pitch in a spring training game for the Mets, but he threw all of his pitches Wednesday under the watchful eye of pitching coach Dan Warthen.
at the left-hander wouldn’t make his spring debut until March 18, putting him on track to start the Mets’ fifth game of the regular season. After seeing Santana throw, Warthen said he is open to changing that schedule.
“All plans have got to have room for modification,” Warthen said. “If he feels good (Thursday), I have no problem moving the schedule up. His arm strength is fine. We were all worried about the elbow – we didn’t want that thing to fire up again – but he threw his slider and he looked great. He threw the ball really well today.”
Santana had arthroscopic surgery Oct. 1 to repair torn cartilage in his left knee. He reported to camp early and threw bullpen sessions every other day, a routine he said he has never followed before and one he thinks may have caused the tightness in his elbow.
Santana looked sharp Wednesday as he threw his final dozen or so pitches to catcher Brian Schneider with a batter standing in at the plate.
“I feel good,” Santana said. “I threw all my pitches, I threw my breaking ball and everything was good. From now on it’s just a matter of trying to get everything together, but I think big progress today.”
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