PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) _ Carlos Delgado returned to the New York Mets on Thursday, five days after the birth of his son, Carlos Antonio.

Delgado, who had gone to Puerto Rico to attend the birth, received congratulations from teammates. Now that he's back, he can catch up on his rest.

``You don't sleep well at the hospital,'' he said.

The former Toronto Blue Jays star made the trip in plenty of time after being tipped off by head trainer Ray Ramirez on Thursday. He returned a day after his wife was released from the hospital.

``I was walking out to stretch,'' Delgado said. ``Ray told me. I knew he wasn't joking.''

Delgado expects to be ready for Sunday night's season opener at St. Louis.

``They don't have a batting cage at the hospital,'' Delgado said. ``It's going to be a little rusty, but what are you going to do?''