Height/Weight: 6-2/220
| Birthdate: 10/11/1969
| Birthplace: Villa Clara, Cuba
| Bats/Throws: R/R
| Team: New York
| College: No College
| MLB Experience: 9
| Salary: $7,000,000
El Duque has boot removed: MLB.com reports that Orlando Hernandez had the protective boot removed from his right foot on Tuesday, clearing the way for him to begin a rehabilitation program. Hernandez will immediately begin a program of light jogging and throwing, though the Mets have made no timetable of when he might pitch off a mound. "We're taking it a step at a time," assistant general manager John Ricco said. "He's just out of the boot, so let's see how he reacts to that." (Updated 05/07/2008).
Injury Report
Foot - 15-day DL. Out until at least late June (Updated - 5/18/08)
Fantasy Analysis
In a protective boot since the beginning of April to help heal a strained tendon in his right foot, El Duque had been unable to run or perform baseball activities all month. He traveled to New York on Tuesday to see a foot specialist, and though that visit left him free to remove the boot, it marked just one of several hurdles that he still must clear. El Duque still has not recovered from the bunion on his right foot which caused him to alter his windup during Spring Training and produce some undesirable results. He was originally a candidate to be the Mets' No. 5 starter after April 13, but now his Fantasy owners will have to wait awhile -- at least until early June at this point. Stash him in deeper leagues where you have available DL spots, but don't hesitate to dump him if necessary. (Updated 05/07/2008).
Hernandez still hasn't thrown off a mound, the New York Daily News reported. He's been battling a foot problem since spring training. (Updated 05/17/2008)
Advice
He's not close to returning to the Mets' rotation.
El Duque has boot removed: MLB.com reports that Orlando Hernandez had the protective boot removed from his right foot on Tuesday, clearing the way for him to begin a rehabilitation program. Hernandez will immediately begin a program of light jogging and throwing, though the Mets have made no timetable of when he might pitch off a mound. "We're taking it a step at a time," assistant general manager John Ricco said. "He's just out of the boot, so let's see how he reacts to that." (Updated 05/07/2008).
Injury Report
Foot - 15-day DL. Out until at least late June (Updated - 5/18/08)
Fantasy Analysis
In a protective boot since the beginning of April to help heal a strained tendon in his right foot, El Duque had been unable to run or perform baseball activities all month. He traveled to New York on Tuesday to see a foot specialist, and though that visit left him free to remove the boot, it marked just one of several hurdles that he still must clear. El Duque still has not recovered from the bunion on his right foot which caused him to alter his windup during Spring Training and produce some undesirable results. He was originally a candidate to be the Mets' No. 5 starter after April 13, but now his Fantasy owners will have to wait awhile -- at least until early June at this point. Stash him in deeper leagues where you have available DL spots, but don't hesitate to dump him if necessary. (Updated 05/07/2008).
= probable start
