PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets outfielder Moises Alou
homered in his first rehab game Monday and said he is only one or
two weeks away from returning to the majors.
Moises Alou
Left Field
New York Mets
The 41-year-old left fielder has been out since tearing a
quadriceps muscle in his left leg on May 12. He went 2-for-3
Monday, with a solo homer and a walk, for the Gulf Coast League
Mets.
"It was nice to be out there batting," he said. "Right now,
it's just about getting back into shape for play. My quad was not
hurting me at all today. I'm almost 100 percent."
Alou is expected to play Tuesday at Vero Beach against the Gulf
Coast Dodgers. It could take up to two weeks for him to be ready to
rejoin New York's lineup. He was hitting .318 before his injury
with two home runs and 13 RBIs in 110 at-bats.
With the approval of Mets general manager Omar Minaya, Alou
remained in New York for seven weeks following his injury and
worked daily with a private physical therapist. Mets medical
director David Altchek recommended the therapist, allowing Alou to
avoid spending his full recovery time in Port St. Lucie at the
team's spring training facility.
"I know the Mets have a policy of sending players down here,
but I wanted to try something different. I spoke with Omar and he
agreed I could do the treatment up there," said Alou, a veteran of
16 major league seasons. "I wanted to be close to my family."