Cone to Get First Start on Saturday

David Cone will get his first spring training start with the New York Mets in a split-squad game Saturday against Baltimore in Fort Lauderdale.

The 40-year-old right-hander, who didn’t pitch in 2002, threw in the bullpen Wednesday, then was given the go-ahead to face the Orioles by pitching coach Verne Ruhle.

“Things have gone well, I’ve made a lot of progress,” Cone said. “It’s nice to get that confirmation from your pitching coach.”

Cone had left camp for two days to be with his wife, who had minor surgery. and returned Tuesday night. He is trying to make the team as the fifth starter or a reliever after not pitching last season.

Cone, who last pitched for Boston in 2001, threw sliders, split-fingered fastballs and curve balls during his mound session.

Also Wednesday, left-hander John Franco threw off the mound for the second time this spring. Franco, recovering from elbow ligament-replacement surgery, threw 40 pitches and said the elbow felt fine.

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San Diego Padre closer Trevor Hoffman will have shoulder surgery in Los Angeles that probably will keep him sidelined until the All-Star break.

Hoffman, 35, has arthritic degeneration at the end of the bone, which is causing irritation in the shoulder. Dr. Lewis Yocum will do a bone-shaving procedure.

Hoffman had surgery in October to clean up a partial tear of the rotator cuff. Yocum performed a similar procedure on Hoffman after the 1995 season.

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Roy Halladay was picked to start Toronto’s season opener, making it likely he will be the first major league pitcher Hideki Matsui will face in a game that counts. Toronto opens at home on March 31 against the New York Yankees, who signed Matsui to a $21 million, three-year contract.

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Tampa Bay Devil Ray pitching prospect Dewon Brazelton injured his right knee during a spring training sliding drill and will miss an intrasquad game scheduled for today. Brazelton and other pitchers were practicing slides in the outfield Wednesday when the right-hander caught his foot on a sliding mat and tweaked his right knee.