Written by Peter Botte at New York Daily News
In a stunning reversal even by their fallible injury standards, the Mets went from gushing over Jacob deGrom’s anticipated return to the starting rotation on Sunday to announcing that the long-haired righty is likely done for the year and in need of another surgical procedure on his right elbow.
GM Sandy Alderson delivered the grim news before Saturday’s game against the Twins, saying that deGrom experienced “issues” with the ulnar nerve in his elbow while cooling down following a bullpen session on Friday.
“He threw a bullpen yesterday and felt great, but went out to shag in the outfield and threw a ball and he had some pain as a result,” said Alderson, who did not field questions from the media on the Mets’ latest injury this season. “So he will not pitch (Sunday) and I think it’s unlikely that he will pitch the rest of the season. We’ll see.
“It’s likely that this will require a surgical repair, not a significant surgical procedure at least with respect to risk going forward. But it’s something that will have to take place at some point. He was hoping to be able to pitch through it, but given the fact that this thing flares up at unpredictable times, and unpredictable circumstances, I think it’s unlikely that he’ll pitch again this season.”
DeGrom, a former college infielder, underwent Tommy John surgery in 2010 — the year the Mets drafted him — and missed the entire next season while recovering.
Still, he rose quickly through the farm system and copped NL Rookie of the Year honors in 2014, with a 9-6 record and a 2.69 ERA in 22 starts. DeGrom then was selected to his first All-Star team last year, going 14-8 with a 2.54 ERA before also winning three of four starts during the Mets’ run to the World Series.
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