NEW YORK -- The Mets have activated infielder Jed Lowrie from the injured list for the first time this season.
Lowrie signed a $20 million, two-year deal with New York in January but has yet to appear in a game for the Mets. He pinch hit for Marcus Stroman in the bottom of the fourth of a 5-0 loss to the Phillies on Saturday night and struck out swinging.
"It's been frustrating," Lowrie said before the game. "I've had multiple setbacks, but you just find a way to keep moving forward."
The 35-year-old Lowrie said he was healthy when he arrived for spring training, but he experienced left knee pain in camp and opened the year on the injured list. He was nearing a return in May when he injured his left hamstring, and then he strained his right calf while rehabbing those left-side injuries.
"I've worked my butt off to get to the point where I could at least try to help however I can," he said.
Lowrie played 12 minor league rehab games and batted .275 (11-for-40) with two home runs, and manager Mickey Callaway said he'd received encouraging reports about Lowrie's hitting.
Lowrie hit .267 with 23 homers and .801 OPS in 157 games with Oakland last season. He was formerly a client of Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen.
Game notes
1B/OF Dominic Smith said he has a stress fracture in his left foot, not a stress reaction as initially diagnosed. He hopes he can return for the final week of the regular season.