Mets: Jon Niese passes heart tests

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DETROIT -- New York Mets left-hander Jon Niese passed a battery of heart-related tests Tuesday at Henry Ford Hospital, assistant general manager John Ricco said. Niese experienced a rapid heartbeat on the mound during the sixth inning of a game Saturday at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Niese wore a Holter monitor while stretching with teammates during batting practice before the Mets' series opener against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday.

Doctors will evaluate those readings on Wednesday to make sure his heart rate is not abnormal during the course of heightened physical activity before clearing Niese to face the Yankees on Friday at Citi Field.

Niese had experienced a rapid heartbeat in previous instances as well, the southpaw has indicated.

An echocardiogram and an EKG were performed Tuesday. All players are required to undergo an EKG as part of their spring-training physical, Ricco said.

"There was a lengthy list of things they put him through," the assistant GM added.

Also on the injury front with the Mets: Third baseman David Wright, who was cleared last week to ramp up activity as he works back from a stress fracture in his lower back, took groundballs and played catch in Port St. Lucie, Fla., on Tuesday. Manager Terry Collins expected Wright would begin hitting off a tee Wednesday, with an eye toward returning immediately after the All-Star break.

Left-hander Johan Santana, who halted throwing off a mound at the beginning of the month after experiencing discomfort in his surgically repaired left shoulder, was scheduled to return to a mound Tuesday. However, inclement weather in Port St. Lucie delayed that from occurring. Pitching coach Dan Warthen said Santana "feels good." August may be the earliest possible return for Santana.

Ike Davis, who has cartilage damage in his left ankle that may require season-ending surgery, is at home in Arizona doing what Ricco labeled "light rehab."

Right-handed reliever Taylor Buchholz is at home in suburban Philadelphia. He was placed on the disabled list June 2 with what the team labeled shoulder weakness.

Adam Rubin covers the Mets for ESPNNewYork.com.

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Adam Rubin

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Adam Rubin has covered the Mets since 2003. He's a graduate of Mepham High School on Long Island and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He joined ESPNNewYork after spending 10 years at the New York Daily News.
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