Jose Quintana leaves spring game with side tightness, withdraws from World Baseball Classic

JUPITER, Fla. — The Mets completed nearly three weeks of spring training without any injuries. But at the start of the third weekend, they lost two starting pitchers in David Peterson and Jose Quintana with what the club hopes are only minor injuries.

Quintana’s injury has forced him to withdraw from the World Baseball Classic. He made the announcement Sunday night on Instagram, saying he was unable to play for Team Colombia because of the side injury he suffered against the St. Lous Cardinals on Sunday, and said he is “trying to be ready” by the start of the season. Making his second Grapefruit League start, Quintana complained of side tightness after throwing just one inning.

“As a professional, I am aware that without health this is not possible,” Quintana said in the social media post. “From the distance, I send the best of energies to the boys.”

Quintana was set to depart camp following the game and join Team Colombia for the World Baseball Classic, but he was sent back to Port St. Lucie as a precaution and will undergo imaging Monday.

“We’ll get some imaging and see where we are with it shortly,” manager Buck Showalter said after the Mets’ 7-1 win over the Cardinals. “It’s a little too early to see where we are with it. I’m glad he spoke to us and told us so we could get him out of there. We’re not taking any chances.”

Peterson is considered day-to-day after imaging on his left foot showed a contusion. Peterson took a comebacker off of the outside of his foot in a Grapefruit League game on Saturday at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

Following two innings by Kodai Senga, Quintana pitched a scoreless inning and struck out one, throwing just 13 pitches. It was a marked improvement from his last time out when the pitch clock flummoxed the veteran. He rushed his delivery and lasted only 2/3 of an inning as a result.

The 34-year-old signed a two-year contract with the Mets in December to bolster the starting pitching depth. The Mets have stockpiled depth for exactly this reason. Should the Mets be down two starters at the end of camp, they can slot right-hander Tylor Megill into the rotation.

But missing the WBC would be a blow for Quintana, who pitched in the 2017 WBC and has talked about being honored to represent his country in the event once again.

“We’ll get everything back and see if it’s still in play or not,” Showalter said. “We’ll see once we get the information that we need.”