NEW YORK -- Yoenis Cespedes' six-game absence from the Mets' starting lineup officially ended Friday, when he and his bruised right leg played center field for the first time since April 22. Cespedes had appeared in just one game over that stretch, walloping a pinch-hit, game-tying home run Tuesday against the Reds on the only pitch he saw.
That does not, however, mean that Cespedes is back to 100 percent. A bruise still exists on his leg in the area where he had fluid drained Monday, even if the discomfort mostly does not. The Mets do not want Cespedes, who admitted he would have been hesitant running the bases this week, to slide unless it's absolutely necessary.
"I don't know how we're going to monitor it, because when the game goes on, you've got to just react," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "But we've got to be careful of him sliding too much. Any time you try to do something different, it could cause some problems. I just told him ... take it easy. Because I don't need him back in that training room."
Cespedes originally injured his leg diving into the Citi Field stands in pursuit of a foul ball April 13, but started each of the Mets' next seven games, recording at least one extra-base hit in all of them. Tuesday's homer extended that streak to a Major League-best eight.
Overall, Cespedes entered Friday's play batting .300 with six home runs in 67 plate appearances.
Anthony DiComo has covered the Mets for MLB.com since 2008. Follow him on Twitter @AnthonyDiComo and Facebook, and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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