Pedro Martinez returned to the Dominican Republic to be with his sick father on Wednesday, delaying his plans to test his ailing hamstring.

Martinez had planned to rejoin the New York Mets for a bullpen session Wednesday. But Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said Martinez, intending to fly to Atlanta, left a flight in Miami on Wednesday after Martinez received word through an e-mail that his father, Pablo Jaime, sustained a medical setback Wednesday morning.

Jaime, 78, has a form of brain cancer.

There was no immediate word on how long Martinez plans to remain in the Dominican Republic.

The Mets had hoped Martinez could return before the end of the month, possibly for a series against the Los Angeles Dodgers from May 29-31. The 36-year-old has been on the disabled list since April 2 with a strained left hamstring.