New York Mets second baseman Jed Lowrie will be sidelined for a least another few weeks after suffering a slight hamstring strain during his rehab stint with Triple-A Syracuse, manager Mickey Callaway said said Tuesday.
Lowrie, 35, has not played for the Mets yet this season because of a sprained left knee capsule. He signed a two-year, $20 million contract with the team in January, following an All-Star season with the Oakland Athletics during which he batted .267 with 23 home runs and 99 RBIs.
Lowrie is returning to the Mets' facility in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and will be evaluated in two weeks, the team said.
"He's down about it. He's frustrated," Callaway said. "He wants to come up here and help the team."
Before the latest setback, he had been expected to be activated this week.
In other injury news, Callaway said left-handed pitcher Jason Vargas was scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday as he comes back from left hamstring tightness, while lefty Steven Matz planned to play catch to test his left forearm irritation. Matz went on the IL on May 5, and Vargas a day earlier.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.