Injuries have hit the New York Mets this year like never before. In general, all 30 MLB teams have had to deal with the rigors of a long, grueling season that has brought lots of physical ailments, but what has happened to the Mets has been something else.
One of the Mets’ injured stars, Carlos Carrasco, hasn’t been able to pitch in 2021 with a myriad of injuries. He came alongside Francisco Lindor from Cleveland at the beginning of the year, but suffered some elbow soreness during spring training that he downplayed.
During his recovery, the Mets’ starter, who was projected to be in the middle of a very good rotation, tore his hamstring in March, and hasn’t been able to fully shake off the injury.
According to SNY, Mets’ manager Luis Rojas said on Saturday that Carrasco would throw a side session off the edge of the mound for the first time in months, noting that the talented pitcher is ‘trending right’ and that he ‘feels great.’
Carrasco had been throwing off flat ground for a couple of weeks and received a PRP injection on June 11 to accelerate his recovery. With Joey Lucchesi lost for the year due to Tommy John surgery, and Noah Syndergaard having suffered a setback in his rehab assignment, the Mets really need Carrasco more than ever if they don’t want to go to the trade market and overpay for a starter.
The Mets hope to have him next month but it won’t be easy
However, Carrasco won’t be ready to help in the short term.
Mets president Sandy Alderson said a couple of weeks ago, on June 10 during an interview on MLB Network that he’s “hopeful” the hurler will be able to return at some point between early and late July.
Given that he is still not throwing off a mound per se, don’t expect to see Carrasco in early July. He needs to ramp up and face hitters, then go to a rehab assignment. Late July may still be in play.