Scott Hairston went 0-for-3 in his spring debut Wednesday against the Nationals. Hairston, the Mets' fourth outfielder, is back after missing 3 1/2 weeks with a strained oblique.

Scott Hairston (oblique) will make his Grapefruit League debut Wednesday against the Nationals. Hairston has yet to play this spring after suffering a strained left oblique in the early days of camp. However, he still has enough time to get ready for Opening Day.

Scott Hairston (oblique) is aiming to make his Grapefruit League debut on Wednesday. Hairston has been sidelined for the past three weeks with a strained oblique. But he'll play in a minor league game Tuesday, a Grapefruit League game Wednesday, and should be sufficiently tuned up by Opening Day.

Scott Hairston (oblique) tracked pitches and took 20 swings in a batting practice session Sunday. Hairston, who is returning from a strained left oblique muscle, looks to be on track for Opening Day. His availability will go a long way in determining the Mets' current roster situation.

Scott Hairston (oblique) plans to take batting practice Sunday. Hairston is on track to return to Grapefruit League games after swinging a bat for the first time since feeling soreness in his left oblique on Thursday. His availability will go a long way in sorting out the Mets' current roster issues.

Scott Hairston (oblique) has been cleared for most baseball-related activities. Hairston had been sidelined all month due to soreness in his left oblique. But he will take grounders and shag fly balls on Tuesday afternoon in Mets camp, and plans to run the bases on Tuesday night. The Mets haven't ruled him out for the start of the regular season.

Scott Hairston is still reporting tightness in his left oblique four days after receiving a cortisone shot. It sounds like the strain is pretty bad. Though the Mets have yet to provide a real timetable for Hairston's return, it would probably be pushing it to think he could be ready by Opening Day. The extra outfielder ended last season on the disabled list with a similar injury.

Scott Hairston (oblique) will be given a cortisone shot Monday and is sidelined indefinitely. Hairston had been dealing with soreness in his left oblique for the past week, and the pain became much worse on Saturday. It's the same oblique that caused him to end last season on the disabled list. "Once I felt a grab, I figured it wouldn't be a good idea to take another swing," said Hairston. "I wouldn't think it's as serious as it was last year. I think right now, the way I feel, it's one of those things where I know it's injured, but it's not severe."

Updating a previous item, Scott Hairston strained the same left oblique muscle that prompted him to finish last season on the disabled list. "Same as last year, pretty much," Hairston said. ''I wouldn't think it's as serious as it was last year. I think right now, the way I feel, it's one of those things where I know it's injured, but it's not severe." If Hairston were to start the season on the DL, Adam Loewen is expected to be the primary backup to Andres Torres in center field. Veterans Vinny Rottino and Mike Baxter could also be used in backup/utility roles.

Scott Hairston was removed from Saturday's intrasquad game with an undisclosed injury. Hairston, who is expected to serve as the Mets' primary backup in center field, may have re-injured an oblique strain that put an end to his 2011 season. The 31-year-old doesn't figure to have much value on Terry Collins' bench this year.