PORT ST. LUCIE — Jeurys Familia received polite applause from the crowd at First Data Field on Monday upon entering his first exhibition game this spring.
Though the Mets closer is facing a likely suspension from MLB to start the season for his arrest in October on domestic violence charges, the team is treating his spring-training preparation as it normally would.
Familia, who surrendered a run on three hits in the third inning of the Mets’ 5-2 loss to the Astros, is expected to pitch again within a few days before departing next week to join Team Dominican Republic for the World Baseball Classic.
The Mets declined two requests from reporters to make Familia available for questions following his outing Monday, but the righty was stopped by The Post after a workout on a back field and indicated he is fine physically.
“I feel good, ready to go,” Familia said.
He took the blame for a defensive lapse when he was late breaking to first base on Jose Altuve’s single off Wilmer Flores’ glove, costing the Mets a potential third out.
“I stayed on the mound,” Familia said. “My fault.”
Familia last had been seen in action Oct. 5, when he entered a scoreless NL wild-card game against the Giants in the ninth inning and surrendered a three-run homer to Conor Gillaspie. The Mets lost 3-0, ending a season in which they had rallied over the final six weeks to clinch a postseason berth.
For his part, Familia was among the team’s best performers, going 3-4 with a 2.55 ERA and 51 saves, which led the major leagues.
It was the second straight season to end badly for Familia, who was charged with a blown save in Game 5 of the 2015 World Series, capping a rough series against the Royals for the All-Star closer. Included were blown saves in Games 1 and 4.
Normally, Terry Collins might have spoken with Familia at the beginning of camp about the manner in which last season concluded, with the idea of preaching a fresh start, but given Familia’s likely impending suspension, the manager didn’t broach the subject.
“He came into this camp with a little weight on his shoulders, so we didn’t bring up anything except, ‘Get ready for the season,’ ” Collins said.
SEE ALSO
Jeurys Familia leaves Mets again as MLB investigation advances 0:0 PORT ST. LUCIE — Major League Baseball’s investigation of Jeurys… When that season will begin for Familia is anybody’s guess. Though Familia recently missed three days of team workouts pertaining to MLB’s investigation of the Oct. 31 arrest — the pitcher’s wife declined to press charges — the Mets await a decision.
The team does not expect Familia to receive any suspension before the conclusion of the WBC. Under that timetable, the ruling would come in the final week of spring training.
On Monday, Mets players gathered for training on the subject of domestic violence as part of MLB’s awareness program.
Collins said Familia’s situation is not affecting the pitcher’s preparation, but the Mets also are prepared to hand the closer’s role to Addison Reed for the start of the season, should Familia be suspended.
“You have got to get [Familia] ready for the season,” Collins said. “You can’t sit here because nobody knows how long, so you have got to get him ready, so that’s our job, and certainly right now, we’ve got to get him ready to go pitch the WBC.
“That is first and foremost because we don’t want to have anything happen at that tournament. We’ll get him ready, and when he gets back from that, we’ll get him ready to start the season.”
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