Heart condition keeps Feliciano out of activities

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Reliever Pedro Feliciano will not participate in any baseball activities for the next two weeks, until the Mets receive an updated diagnosis on his heart condition.

General manager Sandy Alderson cautioned that Feliciano's claim of a hole in his heart may not be accurate, though Feliciano reiterated Sunday that an MRI exam revealed "little holes like outside the heart."

"The doctors have asked that he be monitored over the next couple of weeks," Alderson said. "Until that time, we won't really have a diagnosis. With respect to his comment that he has a hole in his heart, I don't think that's clear at this point."

"They said in the test that I had little holes like outside the heart," Feliciano reiterated Sunday. "Little holes, but I don't feel anything. That's what they said in the MRI."

Feliciano is waiting on a heart monitor, which he will wear for two weeks. He will not participate in any baseball activities during that time.

The left-hander said he does not have an official diagnosis for his condition, which he jokingly referred to as "Feliciano's Condition." Manager Terry Collins noted a day earlier that it "could possibly be very serious."

"I don't feel anything," Feliciano said. "I'm healthy. I work hard. I never feel dizzy or anything. It was surprising for me. But the doctors are the ones who know. I have to wait and be relaxed until they tell me I'm cleared."

In the meantime, four other lefty relievers will compete for what appears to be one open spot in the bullpen. Josh Edgin is a heavy favorite to break camp with the team, leaving Robert Carson, Darin Gorski, Scott Rice and Aaron Laffey to compete for one other spot. Feliciano had been a favorite for that role until tests revealed his condition.

"I was ready, man," Feliciano said. "I was happy to pitch on Friday, and now to be down is hard. I hope when I come back, I'll just pitch good and surprise everybody and make the team."