PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Justin Turner, the leading candidate to replace injured David Wright at third base for the Mets, left New York’s game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday after spraining his right ankle.
The Mets said Turner was taken to a hospital for precautionary X-rays.
Turner made a nice play on a hard-hit grounder by Justin Ruggiano, and his left leg buckled and his right foot turned awkwardly when he tried to throw to first. Turner was limping badly and was replaced by Brandon Hicks.
“I think just getting up, going to make the throw, I caught my front spike on the lip of the grass and then in order to try to catch my balance, all my weight went on my right foot and I turned it over,” Turner said. “I don’t think it’s too bad, though. I was able to walk off on my own, and it’s not too swollen so, hopefully, as long as it doesn’t blow up overnight and get too bad, it will just be a couple days.”
Turner said he has sprained both ankles several times in the past.
“That’s one reason I don’t feel like this one’s too bad because I’ve had some pretty bad ones,” he said.
Wright has a left intercostal muscle strain and is expected to rest for up to four days before he is reevaluated.
