NEW YORK -- Four hours before Friday’s game at Citi Field, Mets second baseman Robinson Cano was on the infield dirt, running through a series of sprints and ground-ball drills. He came away from the early workout session feeling “good,” but could not well enough convince Mets officials to make him available for that night’s game against the Rockies.

Cano’s hope is that he can return from his tweaked left quad as soon as Saturday, without taking a second trip to the injured list.

“In my mind, I want to play right now,” Cano said. “Everything feels good today.”

Originally straining his quad May 22 against the Nationals, Cano spent 13 days on the IL, returned last Wednesday, then departed that game due to a recurrence of pain. He said that while this latest issue is in the same spot, it doesn’t feel nearly as serious as the initial strain.

As late as 4 p.m. ET Friday, manager Mickey Callaway said that the team’s training staff was considering letting Cano be available for that night’s game. Later that same afternoon, the Mets instead chose a path of further caution.

“It felt good, but this was the first time that I ran 100 percent,” Cano said. “They just want to wait and see. We don’t want to take a chance.”

Cano is batting .238 with three home runs and a .650 OPS in 46 games.

From the trainer’s room

Outfielder Brandon Nimmo, who is recovering from a bulging disc in his neck, played a second Minor League rehab game Friday for Class A Advanced St. Lucie. While Nimmo continues to make progress, the Mets do not intend to activate him until he also proves capable of taking reps in the outfield. Such defensive work bothered Nimmo more than his plate appearances before he landed on the IL.

The Mets’ Opening Day leadoff hitter, Nimmo is batting .200 with three home runs and a .667 OPS in 43 games.

OG Met returns

Original Met Frank Thomas appeared at Citi Field on Friday for the first time in about a decade, as the Mets continue to bring figures from their past to Flushing for recognition. Thomas, who will turn 90 on Tuesday, hit 34 home runs for the expansion Mets in 1962 -- a single-season franchise record that stood for 13 years.

Also in attendance Friday was Rico Brogna, who hit .291 for the Mets from 1994-96. A Watertown, Conn., native, Brogna worked as a Minor League coach in the Phillies organization as recently as last summer.