Jose Reyes to DL; Nick Evans recalled

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New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes was placed on the disabled list Thursday with a left hamstring injury.

Reyes

The news came after a doctor had recommended that he rest his injury for at least three weeks, a source told ESPNdeportes.com's Enrique Rojas earlier in the day.

"I'm disappointed because I want to be on the field," Reyes told reporters Thursday before the Mets' series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Mets officially called up corner infielder/outfielder Nick Evans from Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday. They had flown him to Los Angeles on Wednesday in anticipation of this move, multiple team sources told ESPNNewYork.com's Adam Rubin.

Reyes, who is having a career year, has been off the field since Saturday. The move to the DL is retroactive to July 3.

"The doctor is standing by the original diagnosis, but he suggests proper rest to reduce the possibility of a relapse," the source said.

Reyes, 28, is leading the National League in batting average (.354) in the last year of his contract with the Mets. He was voted the starting shortstop for the NL All-Star team.

After taking ground balls and working on a stationary bicycle and treadmill earlier this week, Reyes was unable to do any physical activity on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, the shortstop said. A team official had said a firm decision to place Reyes on the disabled list would not be made until Reyes arrived at the ballpark Thursday.

"I didn't do anything today. ... Probably tomorrow I don't do anything, either," Reyes said after Wednesday's 5-3 win against the Dodgers.

The Mets had been inclined to play with a short bench this week and keep Reyes on the active roster if doctors believed there was a reasonable chance the spark plug would be healthy for the first series following the All-Star break, against the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies. Reyes will now be ineligible for that July 15-17 series.

"I will start riding the bike nice and easy," Reyes said Thursday. "I'm going to take it day-by-day. I don't want to go back to the field too soon and blow my hamstring."

Reyes' landing on the DL also means he will be unable to play in an All-Star Game for the third time in his career because of injury after being selected. With a late surge in fan voting, Reyes had overtaken the Colorado Rockies' Troy Tulowitzki as the starting NL shortstop. Regardless of his health, Reyes has indicated he plans to attend Tuesday's game in Phoenix -- as he did in 2006 and again last year when he was unable to play.

The Mets made the decision on Reyes during a meeting Wednesday with him, manager Terry Collins, general manager Sandy Alderson, doctors and the training staff.

"It came down to what's most important, three games or the next 50?" Collins said. "This guy's whole game is about his legs and what he's ready to bring to the game."

Collins wanted to err on the side of caution, even though he could have used Reyes as a pinch hitter on the final four games of the road trip. Ruben Tejada has replaced Reyes at short.

"I know for a fact that sucker is going to hit a ball in the gap and he's going to go for a triple," Collins said. "I would not have been able to live with myself if he'd blown out between second and third."

Helping make the decision easier was the fact that the Mets have won four consecutive games since Reyes got hurt.

"One of our concerns was if we have to disable this guy, what's the energy going to be like on the club? The way we've played in the last four days, I think our guys realize they still have to pick it up," Collins said. "His energy is still on the bench and it's that great smile and everything he brings to this team is still there, it's just not on the field."

Reyes will remain with the team for now, go to Phoenix for the All-Star Game, and return to New York on Wednesday to resume treatment. After that, he would likely play in a few rehab games.

Collins said Reyes could return in time for the Mets' trip to Florida that begins July 22.

Enrique Rojas is a reporter and columnist for ESPNdeportes.com. Information from ESPNNewYork.com's Adam Rubin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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