BROOKLYN, NY – Despite possessing a nine game winning streak, the New York Mets still are hoping to improve in the outfield. With Moises Alou probably out for the season and Ryan Church still uncertain, some help is needed - the sooner the better.

So it’s welcome news to see Angel Pagan rehabbing his left shoulder in Brooklyn tonight in the Cyclones’ 7-6 win over the State College Spikes.

“[The shoulder’s] alright,” said Pagan who went 1-4 and stole a base, which increased his Brooklyn career best franchise total to 33. “I can tell you better when I face a lefty. I am just playing and I have a goal to come back.”

Because his left shoulder suffered a torn labrum after he crashed in the Dodger Stadium wall on May 7, Pagan and the Mets are worried about his righthanded hitting. Although he played all three games against State College, the outfielder faced no lefthanded pitching, so his rehab will have to continue until a southpaw is on the mound.

“He needs to hit righthanded before we send him to New York,” said Cyclones manager Edgar Alfonzo. “Now [State College] doesn’t have a lefty, so he needs a couple more games now to face a lefty and then send him to the big club.”

The Mets hope the hurt labrum will not bother him the rest of the season. Even though the Daily News reported the outfielder was considering season ending surgery, Pagan said those rumors were false, but he may consider going under the knife after the season. Pagan said he never thought to have surgery now.

“I hope I get better playing and helping the team,” said Pagan, so was hitting .275 with 13 RBI when he was injured. “I hope that I get better and not need surgery. We’ll see after the season of what happens.”

Pagan will travel to Oneonta tomorrow with the Cyclones and play in that city on Wednesday. Then he goes to Binghamton for what he called “two or three days” and the hopefully will join the Mets either in Cincinnati or back in New York to face the Phillies on Tuesday.

For the Mets and Pagan it can’t come soon enough. “I could have been helping the team right now,” he said. “Unfortunately this happened to me. I was healthy as a bull and then crashed into a wall and all of a sudden I was hurt. I was just playing aggressive and things happen. I just need to keep working hard to come back strong, so I can help the club.”

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