Brad Brach’s absence at the Mets camp was confirmed Wednesday.
The veteran reliever hasn’t worked with the team since spring 2.0 training began on Friday, according to manager Luis Rojas, who said he would not give further details. The day before, Rojas confirmed that reliever Jared Hughes, signed last week, had not yet appeared at the camp.
It is unclear whether any players have tested positive for COVID-19 – through intake tests or since the camp began. But general manager Brodie Van Wagenen indicated before the intake test results had been accepted that a player on the 40-person list had previously tested positive for corona virus. The Mets did not comment on the player’s status for a disease not related to baseball.
Coach Bench Hensley Meulens, who missed the first four days of training, has been in the camp for the past two days. Chili Davis is the only coaching staff member absent – he was chosen to work from home in Arizona remotely due to coronavirus problems.
Brad BrachAnthony J. Causi
Jacob Rhame, who began camping with the Mets, was declared exempt from the Angels. The Mets added Ryley Gilliam’s right-hand pitcher to their player pool.
The Mets played their first intrasquad training, which lasted 2½ innings. Dellin Betances, Paul Sewald, Justin Wilson, Tyler Bashlor and Jeurys Familia all watched the action from the mound.
Rojas was asked about the Mets’ scheduled exhibition match against the Yankees on July 17 and 18. The first match was set for Citi Field, with the last at Yankee Stadium.
“I can’t wait to see the other teams,” Rojas said. “I am really excited to face the others [uniform]especially the team that we will see in the regular season six times, so it will be good for us. “
Maybe the Mets could add a third exhibition game.
Amed Rosario still not familiar with the safety protocols applied for training.
“It’s not comfortable, just in the sense of being so far from the players,” Rosario said through a translator. “This is one of the things that I have used throughout my career and now we can’t do it, it’s not comfortable.”
