Brandon Nimmo exits game early with injury in Mets concern

Brandon Nimmo, who arguably has been the Mets’ most valuable position player, was forced out of Saturday’s game early with right intercostal irritation, the Mets said, after an awkward non-swing.

The Mets outfielder successfully held up after beginning his swing during a third-inning at-bat against Atlanta’s Max Fried at Citi Field and immediately grabbed at his right side.

Nimmo took a few moments, talking with a trainer and manager Carlos Mendoza, before taking a warmup swing and stepping back into the box.

Nimmo would walk in the at-bat and remain in the game, but only for the next inning.

Nimmo was pulled in the top of the fifth, when Tyrone Taylor was inserted into left field. 

Nimmo entered play with a .781 OPS that was the best among Mets regulars.

The 31-year-old had struggled to stay healthy in the early years of his career but played 151 and 152 games, respectively, in the past two seasons.