Jose Quintana took a step in the right direction as the Mets LHP made his third rehab start Sunday — and first with High-A Brooklyn.
After debuting this season by recording two outings for Low-A St. Lucie, Quintana threw 32 strikes on 47 pitches in the Cyclones’ game against the Hudson Valley Renegades — the Yankees’ High-A affiliate.
He allowed one run on two hits (one homer) while striking out five and walking one in four innings.
The lone blunder — after three hitless frames — was Benjamin Cowles‘ leadoff solo shot to left-center field in the fourth inning, which put Hudson Valley up 1-0 on Brooklyn.
Quintana battled for the next three outs, getting a flyout and a strikeout before surrendering Alexander Vargas‘ two-out double but ultimately ending the inning by limiting the damage with another flyout to cap the afternoon.
The 34-year-old Quintana, whom the Mets signed Dec. 9 to a two-year contract worth $26 million, landed on the injured list March 30 (retroactive to March 27) with a left rib fracture.