Mets designated hitter JD Martinez suffered a left elbow contusion after being hit by a 99.6 mph fastball, forcing him to leave Tuesday’s loss to the A’s.
X-rays came back negative for Martinez, who was not expected to undergo further imaging, according to Mets manager Carlos Mendoza.
Martinez stayed on as a baserunner after Oakland starter Joe Boyle plunked him in the second inning at Citi Field, but he was removed in the fourth before his next at-bat.
“When I got to second base, I was like, ‘Oh, OK, I’ll be fine,'” Martinez said. “And then I ran and it felt like I got hit again. I was like, ‘Dude, my arm is killing me.’ Pretty much no strength, that’s what it feels like. You can’t squeeze your hand.”
The 36-year-old Martinez is hitting .257 with 12 home runs and 53 RBI in 319 at-bats this season, which is first with the Mets.
The six-time All-Star signed a one-year, $12 million contract with the Mets in March after becoming one of several high-profile Scott Boras clients to endure prolonged free agency. Martinez has primarily batted third, fourth or fifth — where he batted Tuesday — since debuting with the Mets on April 26.
“They say it should be fine,” Martinez said of his elbow. “I hope so [to be back] tomorrow, but we’ll see how it feels.’
Mark Vientos pinch hit for Martinez after starting Tuesday on the bench because of a sore left ankle. Vientos finished 1-for-2 with two walks.
That ankle problem scratched Vientos from Sunday’s series finale in Seattle, but manager Carlos Mendoza said before Tuesday’s game that the third baseman could be an option off the bench and could start Wednesday.
Originally published: