New York Mets outfielder Mike Tauchman suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee during Saturday's spring training game against the Houston Astros. The injury requires surgery, ending his chances of making the Opening Day roster, manager Carlos Mendoza said Sunday. It clears the way for prospect Carson Benge to secure a spot.
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- During a 7-5 spring training loss to the Astros at Clover Park on Saturday, outfielder Mike Tauchman showed visible discomfort in his left knee. He hobbled on a third-inning groundout, struggled pursuing Yainer Diaz's double in the fourth, and pulled himself from the game before the fifth inning. An MRI that afternoon confirmed a torn meniscus, marking Tauchman's second such knee surgery in six months after a right knee procedure last September. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza announced the news Sunday, noting the trainers suspected the issue immediately. “It got to a point where he couldn’t do it anymore,” Mendoza said. “The trainers kind of knew as soon as he came out, right away.” Tauchman, 35, signed with the Mets on Feb. 19 to bolster outfield depth and compete for one of the final roster spots alongside Carson Benge and Vidal Bruján. He impressed with a .368 batting average for Benge's competition, but posted one homer, three doubles, four walks and an .819 OPS in 13 Grapefruit League games. “This is a guy that was pretty much in the mix,” Mendoza said. “But we feel good with the options that we got here... It sucks for him, and obviously for the team. But we still feel pretty good with the guys that we got here.” Benge, the organization's No. 2 prospect, now appears set for right field with his strong defense and at-bats. Bruján is likely for a bench role. No official announcement has been made ahead of Monday's camp break, and the Mets plan to check the waiver wire.