Mets news: Wright and d’Arnaud take steps forward

Aug 29, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets catcher Travis d

D’Arnaud has been cleared to swing a bat

Travis d’Arnaud has been cleared to swing a bat, meaning his rehab from the broken pinky he suffered on April 19 is now full steam ahead.

D’Arnaud, who has been on the disabled list since April 20, had his soft cast removed and was cleared to engage in all baseball activity except swinging last Monday.

The fact that d’Arnaud has been cleared to swing a bat means that the broken bone is healing well. While speaking with reporter Marc Carig, Sandy Alderson would not give a timetable on d’Arnaud’s return, but said there’s a certain protocol catchers have to follow before being activated from the disabled list.

Thankfully for d’Arnaud and the Mets, he’s already had a week-long head start on getting his body back in shape. Now, it’s simply a matter of how the hand reacts to swinging.

When d’Arnaud returns from the disabled list, the Mets are expected to send Kevin Plawecki back to Triple-A Las Vegas.