Mets’ Davis may have valley fever

Mets fans waiting for the first injury shoe to drop this spring have their winner. And it’s a weird one right off the bat.

First baseman Ike Davis is reportedly being treated for valley fever, a lung infection acquired by living in a desert region. It is caused by a fungus which is released from the soil and infects the lungs once breathed in. The disease is officially called coccidioidomycosis and the Centers for Disease Control and and Prevention (CDC) report that 10 percent to 50 percent of the population in desert areas are affected.

Davis grew up in Scottsdale, Ariz., attended Arizona State and lives in the Phoenix area in the offseason.

Most cases are mild and have symptoms similar to the flu, though some infections can cause serious complications.

Davis didn’t play in Saturday’s intrasquad game. Mets manager Terry Collins said the team was proceeding with caution even though Davis said he could play.

“We can’t let him run down. That’s what we’ve been told,” Collins said. “We’ll give him some days off. He says he can go, and he’s been doing everything he’s supposed to. But we need to be sure he doesn’t push it.”

Davis returned to New York last week for bloodwork after what was called a minor lung infection was discovered in his routine physical at the start of camp. The Mets said it was not a concern and downplayed the return to New York, saying Davis would be back practicing the next day. He has continued to work out with the team.

Davis played in just 36 games last season after breaking a bone in his foot while stepping on David Wright’s foot on a routine infield pop up. At the time it appeared to be just a minor turned ankle. Instead he missed the rest of the season, though it did not require surgery.

Davis had gotten off to a tremendous start, batting .302 with seven homers and 25 runs batted in prior to the injury.

Follow Metro New York Sports Editor Mark Osborne on Twitter @MetroNYSports.