NEW YORK -- A day after likening the beginning to his New York Mets career to "a bad dream," outfielder Chris Young was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday morning.
After hitting .310 with a homer in 58 spring-training at-bats, Young missed Opening Day with a right quadriceps strain, which he suffered last weekend at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. He exited his Mets debut after one inning Wednesday.
Young signed a one-year, $7.25 million deal with the Mets on Nov. 26.
"I don't think it's anything severe," manager Terry Collins said. "I do believe he caught it in time. He just said it grabbed on him. I mean, he could jog off the field. He didn't have to come out immediately. So I don't think it's going to last more than that."
With second baseman Daniel Murphy returning from paternity leave Thursday, the Mets had to clear a roster spot. The alternative was to demote infielder Wilmer Flores, who had joined the club and now will likely will stick around until Sunday, when the Mets plan to activate left-hander Jonathon Niese from the DL.
Niese had suffered elbow inflammation during spring training and received a cortisone injection, but subsequently has made two issue-free minor league starts.
Flores started at second base and went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Wednesday.
The Mets are carrying an extra bench player and four starting pitchers, since they do not need the fifth starter until Sunday.
Murphy's wife, Tori, gave birth to the couple's first child, son Noah, on Monday in Florida.