Mets INF Lowrie to undergo MRI on left knee

Jed Lowrie's preparation for his first season with the New York Mets will slow down considerably after an issue with his left knee was deemed serious enough to require an MRI. Lowrie, who turns 35 in April, said Wednesday at spring training in Port St. Lucie, Fla., that the back of his left knee has been giving him discomfort. He signed a two-year, $20 million contract with the Mets last month.

"It started when I really started ramping things up," the infielder told reporters. "When I started to get into top-end speed stuff, batting practice, I just felt it kind of in the back side of my knee." The 11-year veteran is coming off a season with the Oakland Athletics in which he hit a career-best 23 home runs with 99 RBIs and made his first All-Star Game appearance. He also finished 20th in American League MVP voting.

New York's first spring training game is scheduled for Saturday, with the team hoping he can have at least 40 at-bats before pronouncing him ready to go for Opening Day. "Our goal is to have him ready for the first game of the season," Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. "That's why we're being cautious with him."

Callaway said Lowrie started feeling soreness when he ran during the first few days of camp. His MRI is scheduled to take place Thursday. Lowrie is a .262 career hitter with 104 home runs and 509 RBIs playing for the Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros A's. Before last season, he had never hit more than 16 home runs in a season and had never reached more than 75 RBIs.

--Field Level Media