MINNEAPOLIS — Umpire Hunter Wendelstedt was “in good spirits” and undergoing additional testing at a local hospital on Wednesday, according to an MLB spokesman, after he was hit with a line drive off the side of head.
Wendelstedt was umpiring first base when Tyrone Taylor’s foul shot in the sixth inning beaned him.
“I saw it like I was watching it in slow motion,” Taylor said after the Mets’ 4-3 loss to the Twins at Target Field. “It was just scary.”
Wendelstedt was “coherent, speaking,” according to crew chief Todd Tichenor.
The remainder of the game was played with three umpires.
Taylor said the incident reminded him of a line drive he hit into the stands earlier in his career that injured a fan.
“It feels like it was my fault,” Taylor said.
Jeff McNeil’s next act in his rehab will involve trying a different position.
As the Mets second baseman continues toward a return from an oblique strain, he is scheduled to play center field on Thursday for Low-A St. Lucie, according to manager Carlos Mendoza.
McNeil has three center field appearances in his major league career, two of which were starts in 2023.
The Mets have an opportunity for playing time in center, with Jose Siri sidelined by a fractured left tibia. Siri is expected to be placed on the injured list Thursday.
“This is nothing new for [McNeil], he has played there before,” Mendoza said. “But we wanted to take advantage of this opportunity in the minor leagues, he’s on board with it.”
Mendoza noted the club also has Taylor and Luisangel Acuña as center field options, but wants to increase McNeil’s positional flexibility.
McNeil’s rehab will potentially shift to Triple-A Syracuse this weekend, but Mendoza said the weather will play a determining factor.
McNeil strained his oblique early in spring training and has been rehabbing since.
Francisco Alvarez was scheduled for a return to action with Double-A Binghamton, a day after he was hit by a pitch in the left hand and departed the game after catching the next inning.
Alvarez is rehabbing from surgery on that same hand.
“A little scary, he came out of the game, but he is fine,” Mendoza said.
