Mets C Kevin Plawecki is heading to Florida to ramp up his rehab and hopes to begin a rehab assignment in about a week, he told reporters on Friday.
Grip strength in Plawecki's left hand doubled earlier this week and he began a hitting progression on Wednesday.
Plawecki has been out since April 11 due to a hairline fracture in his left hand, and Mets GM Sandy Alderson said last week that once Plawecki showed improvement with his grip strength that his return could happen "very rapidly."
Without Plawecki and Travis d'Arnaud (who is out for the season due to Tommy John surgery), the Mets had been using a combination of rookie Tomas Nido and veteran Jose Lobaton behind the plate.