Valentín Misses the Mets and Thinks He Can Help (RR)

“We’d talk about all the baseball situations that might up on the next play, but then I might throw in, ‘Man, why you so ugly today?’” Valentín said. “If I could get him to smile, I knew he’d relax and let his skills just take over.”

At 38, Valentín is anxious to get back with the Mets and reward them for their patience. He played in only 51 games last season because of two injuries — a weak right knee that eventually required surgery; and a fractured right tibia from a foul ball. And then came a pinched nerve in his neck this spring.

The knee is fine now. But just as he was set to leave St. Lucie for a week or so of games at Class AAA New Orleans, he felt soreness in his right elbow. For now, he remains in St. Lucie.

“If I was some other place, I think I’d be at home right now,” Valentín said of the Mets’ willingness to keep him in the minors and keep hoping. “They’ve been holding on to me and waiting for me. I have a passion within me to give them some payback because they have been so great. I want to help out any way I can.”