Mets Injury Report

The New York Mets are no stranger to injuries but were lucky enough to receive some players back this week. Jeff McNeil and Michael Conforto rejoined a lifeless offense, which helped lead to a seven-run outburst in Wednesday’s victory. Who else should the Mets expect to return from the IL?

Marcus Stroman is optimistic he can make his next start, per Rojas. Mets will take it day by day. His hip still feels sore today.

— Deesha (@DeeshaThosar) June 23, 2021

Marcus Stroman avoided a big scare after he left Tuesday’s start early with a hip injury. Manager Luis Rojas said Stroman would not need an IL stint, and Stroman expects to make his next start. With another doubleheader coming up on Friday, the Mets will need all arms available over the weekend. Before the injury, Stroman had gone at least six innings in nine consecutive starts.

Jonathan Villar is still day-to-day with the calf injury he suffered during Monday’s doubleheader. He missed the rest of the games against the Braves, but he was available off the bench in Wednesday’s finale. Thursday’s off-day should serve as all the rest Villar needs to return. It will be interesting to see where Rojas bats Villar with Jeff McNeil healthy and batting leadoff while he has been sidelined.

Middle Finger Issues

Brandon Nimmo is in the middle of a rehab assignment with the Syracuse Mets as he recovers from a slight ligament tear in his middle finger. Nimmo has gone 1-for-7 with a walk and has been playing center field as well. He always had one rehab assignment shut down after soreness in the finger. If Nimmo continues to progress, he should rejoin the Mets next week.

J.D. Davis is still in his long rehab from a sprained left middle finger but is on track to play in minor league games within the next two weeks. If all goes well, Davis should rejoin the team just after the All-Star break. Davis has already suffered multiple setbacks, and having him play games is a huge step towards getting his bat back. He was one of the few Mets hitting well before landing on the IL. Davis batted .390/.479/.610 with two home runs in 14 games.

Surprising Injuries

Tomas Nido was not as lucky to avoid IL time after getting hit in the hand by a Shane Greene fastball. Nido only suffered a contusion to his right wrist. The Mets have not set a date for Nido’s return, but he should not be out for a long time. Walk-off hero, Patrick Mazeika, is the backup catcher until Nido returns.

Robert Gsellman landed on the 60-day IL with a torn right lat and was another pitcher who struggled before his injury. Gsellman had a 2.42 ERA in 13 games to start his season, then gave up five runs in his final two outings. Recovery usually takes 6-8 weeks for lat injuries which keeps him out of action until August.

Jeurys Familia was another surprising injury after being a workhorse out of the bullpen. Familia landed on the 10-day IL with a left hip impingement, and the Mets have no timetable for his return. Before the injury, he was having a solid season with a 3.63 ERA but struggled in the three games leading up to landing on the IL. Familia allowed five runs in those three games after a stretch where he was scored upon once in 20 outings.

Long-Term Injuries

Joey Lucchesi‘s season came to an unfortunate end when he found out his torn UCL needs Tommy John Surgery. Lucchesi will miss the rest of 2021 and puts his 2022 season in jeopardy. He was having his best stretch of the season where he had a 1.19 ERA in his last five starts before getting shut down.

Johnseshwy Fargas (separated shoulder) and Jordan Yamamoto (right shoulder soreness) are out indefinitely with their respective injuries. The Mets were cautious with Yamamoto as shoulder injuries can have very damaging effects if mishandled.

Where Have You Been?

Dellin Betances is back throwing in minor league games with very mixed success. In Single-A, Betances had two scoreless outings but had an outing where he allowed five runs and two walks while only recording one out. Betances is currently in Triple-A, where he has one scoreless outing while working around two hits. His velocity is still in the low-mid 90s, and he still has not proven he is a big-league caliber pitcher since he left the Yankees.

Carlos Carrasco has resumed throwing on flat ground as he recovers from a hamstring injury. He has gone through several setbacks in his return from injury, but throwing again gives hope he can return down the stretch run. Carrasco is getting close to Jed Lowrie’s levels of health issues, and the second half will determine if he is Lowrie’s pitching counterpart.

Noah Syndergaard is about another two weeks from restarting a throwing program after being shut down in late May. He still aims to return this season, but the delayed timeline certainly threw a wrench in the Mets’ plans. If Syndergaard suffers another setback, we may not see him throw a pitch this season.

The New York Mets received a small scare Saturday after Noah Syndergaard’s night finished. He was drilled in the ribs with a line drive off the bat of Cesar Hernandez. Syndergaard exited the game, but felt fine after the game and joked he was more worried about the baseball. His X-Rays came back negative and he should be on track to make his next scheduled start.

Dominic Smith also left Saturday’s game early with a groin injury. He left the game after grounding into a fielder’s choice which may have cause stress to his left groin. He is currently day-to-day but the Mets should know more about his status later today. Smith has only hit .205 with 3 home runs and 4 RBIs this season.

Devin Mesoraco (back, neck) has been out since Tuesday after aggravating the same injury that kept him out in August. Manager Mickey Callaway said he is unsure when Mesoraco would return to action. He also said he would be on the 10-day DL if the rosters did not expand in September. Mesoraco has hit .211 with 9 home runs as a Met and will likely be heading somewhere else in the offseason.

David Wright (shoulder) took part in a simulated game on Saturday at Citi Field and homered to the opposite field. The home run came off Tim Peterson and Wright also took ground balls at third base. Wright plans to play this season even amidst the rumors of the front office wanting to hold him back to save money. It would certainly end the year on a bright spot if Wright was able to take the field again at some point this season.

With the New York Mets virtually out of the playoff hunt, the injuries have slowed down a little and the Mets have put some key players on the shelf. There is no real need for anyone to return now and they are being extremely cautious with all of their players.

Michael Conforto (thumb) did not start in Sunday’s win against the Pittsburgh Pirates with a sore thumb. He first aggravated the thumb when he was jammed on a swing about two weeks ago and felt the pain again after being jammed a couple times on Saturday. He was well enough to pinch hit and with a day off Monday he should be back in the lineup on Tuesday.

Cespedes Out For the Season

Yoenis Cespedes (heels) announced he would be undergoing season-ending surgery on his heels on Wednesday. Cespedes only played in one game before he shut it down again because of the pain in his legs. The procedure will take 8-10 months to recover from and will likely take away from him playing in the beginning of 2019. Cespedes is set to make over $65 million over the next two years of his contract.

Noah Syndergaard (illness) is set to pitch again on Wednesday against the Washington Nationals. He suffered a hand, foot and mouth virus from working a youth camp over the All-Star break. The illness was not life threatening, but it was something only a Met would get. His name has been brought up in trade talks throughout the year, but it is apparent he will stay in New York.

Frazier Close, Bruce Not So Much

Todd Frazier (ribs) began a rehab assignment in Port St. Lucie on Saturday. After going his entire career without a DL stint, he has had two in his first season with the Mets. He is set to return at some point during the upcoming week. He has only hit .217/.300/.385 with 10 homers in 61 games this season.

Jay Bruce (hip) hopes to begin swinging a bat within the next few days. Bruce has had an extremely disappointing year with the bat and his health. He only has three home runs and 17 RBIs and his failures can be contributed to his poor health. The Mets hope to have him at 100% before they even think about putting him back on the roster.

The final New York Mets Injury Report of the first half of the year. The season has certainly been disappointing to say the least and as usual injuries has decimated the Mets roster. There is some hope after the All-Star break, some key Mets may be back and Noah Syndergaard will start the first game out of the break.

Small Scare For Cabby

Asdrubal Cabrera (hand) left Sunday afternoon’s game against the Washington Nationals after injuring the hand on an errant pickoff throw by Anthony Swarzak. Cabrera stay in for an inning after the injury, but was removed for precautionary purposes. The Mets ran X-Rays on the hand after the game and they came back negative. He is considered day-to-day and is expected to be ready to play after the All-Star break.

Todd Frazier (left ribcage strain) was placed on the 10-day DL about a week ago. He suffered the injury on July 8 while swinging during a game. There is no timetable for his return and it will be no surprise if he needs multiple stints on the DL. Ty Kelly was called up to replace his spot on the Mets roster. This is Frazier’s second injury of the season after going his entire career without ever needing a DL stint.

Jason Vargas (calf) threw six, one-hit innings for the Brooklyn Cyclones last week but will make another rehab start for Brooklyn. Corey Oswalt will continue to pitch in the Mets rotation until Vargas it healthy. Oswalt has made back to back strong starts and has looked way better than Vargas has this season. If Mickey Callaway shows actually confidence in Oswalt, he could be the Mets fifth starter.

Outfielders On The Shelf

Jay Bruce (hip) has been shut down for the last week because of his ongoing hip discomfort. Bruce tried to intensify his workouts last week but his hip did not cooperate with him. His injuries may have a lot to do with his disappointing season of only three home runs. He is not expected to return until late July or early August.

Yoenis Cespedes (hip, quad) played in a simulated spring training game on Monday and homered twice in seven plate appearances. Cespedes has taken reps at first base, but it probably will not translate to him seeing any time there when he returns. He is scheduled to comeback on Friday against the Yankees and will DH in the series before returning to the outfield.

T.J. Rivera (elbow) was removed from his rehab game on Thursday following discomfort in his elbow. There was no damaged done to the elbow and will be fine to continue playing. He could return as early as Friday against the Yankees. This would cause the Mets to make a few roster moves to make room for Rivera and Cespedes.

The snake bitten New York Mets have struggled with injuries once again this year. Even more than ever, they need their key players to return. One of their stars seem content with sitting on the sidelines while their team struggles, instead trying to figure out how to get on the field. It becomes scary when these take more than one page and then you see another team who only has four players injured.

Mejia is Back

Jenrry Mejia (suspension) has conditionally been reinstated from his permanent suspension for the 2019 season. This is not a true injury, but it has kept him off the field since 2015 after he was handed a lifetime suspension. Mejia tested positive for performance enhancing drugs for the third time in his career which warranted the suspension. Mejia has a 3.68 career ERA and could certainly help the Mets in 2019 if he can still compete at a high level.

Jerry Blevins (bereavement list) has been away from the last couple of days due to the passing of his grandmother. Paul Sewald has taken his spot in the bullpen for the time being. We wish the best to Jerry and the rest of the Blevins family.

Jason Vargas (calf) threw a simulated game on Saturday. He already threw one on July 4^th and should be heading on a minor league rehab assignment shortly. If everything works out well, he should be expected to return around the All-Star break. Mets fans and the organization hopes he takes his time coming back since his ERA is a sparkling 8.60.

Bruce Slowly Coming Back

Jay Bruce (hip) will resume taking batting during the week. He has been out for the last two weeks due to a strained right hip and has had a disappointing season due to multiple injuries. The Mets are not sure on whether Bruce will need a rehab assignment, but the more time he spends out of the lineup will increase the chances of him being sent on one. There is no clear timetable for his return.

Noah Syndergaard (finger) made a rehab start for the Brooklyn Cyclones on Sunday after throwing a 50 pitch simulated game earlier last week. Syndergaard threw five innings allowing two hits, one run and struck out seven. He topped out at 99 mph during his start and was sitting at 98. Syndergaard will take the injury day-by-day, but his next start could come in a Mets uniform. If the Mets want any chance of getting back in the race they will need him.

Where Is Cespy?

Yoenis Cespedes (hip, quad) resumed baseball activities on Thursday. Cespedes has been a lost man for the last few weeks. No one knows how far or close he is from returning because he does not talk to anybody. He is beginning to show the characteristics that has made him a tradable player over the years. Cespedes has no problem sitting on the sidelines if the team if the team is underperforming. He only wants to push himself if the team is winning. His chronic leg injuries are becoming a big issue and has help him back from winning the MVP he has been focused on winning.

David Wright (back, shoulder) took batting practice on back to back days at the end of June and was more active than he has been. There is a very low chance he returns in 2018, but hopefully he gets through the season without any setbacks. Wright is pushing 36 years old and cannot play everyday anymore, but he could likely produce the same way Todd Frazier is. A .220 average with a .390 slugging is definitely numbers Wright could put up if he is healthy and that is not asking for much.

T.J. Rivera Coming Back?

T.J. Rivera (elbow) began a rehab assignment with the St. Lucie Mets on Thursday. Rivera is finally returning to the field after 10 months of recovery from Tommy John Surgery. He will need a couple weeks to get back in baseball shape but he could return before the month ends. He is a .304 hitter in just over 300 ABs and the Mets could certainly use his bat in the lineup.

A.J. Ramos (shoulder), Juan Lagares (toe), Travis d’Arnaud (elbow) and Rafael Montero (elbow) will continue to be sidelined for the entire 2018 season.

The injury bug has returned to haunt the New York Mets again and their play has suffered because of it. Almost half of the original 40-man roster has spent time on the disabled list this season.

Injury Filled Outfield

Jay Bruce (back spasms) was removed from Friday night’s game and was held out of the lineup Saturday night. Bruce was originally in the lineup but could not get his back loose enough to play a whole game. Bruce did have a pinch-hitting appearance but struck out. He is currently day-to-day, but the injury could linger if he keeps playing through it.

Juan Lagares (torn plantar plate in his left foot) was transferred from the 10-day DL to the 60-day DL on Thursday. Lagares figured to be out for the entire season and this move sealed his fate. This allowed the Mets to open another spot on their 40-man roster.

Thor’s Surprise Injury

Noah Syndergaard (strained ligament in his right index finger) was put on the 10-day DL last week which came to the surprise of many people. He already missed one start and expects to miss his next scheduled start against the Baltimore Orioles. He will likely return next weekend against the New York Yankees and the Mets will need him if they want any chance to shut down the Yankees lineup.

Steven Matz (sprained middle finger) played catch on Thursday and threw a bullpen session Friday. He will make his next start today against the Chicago Cubs. Matz has had an up and down season but he has a 3.55 ERA. One of the big improvements the Mets hope to see is Matz ability to work deeper into the game.

A.J. Ramos (right rotator cuff tightness) was placed on the 10-day DL last week after a disastrous start to his season. He had a 6.41 ERA and was big contributor to the failures of the Mets bullpen. There is no timetable for his return, but is eligible to return in the next couple of days. Ramos will likely be sent back to the 10-day again because he will still need time to recover.

Wilmer Flores (lower back soreness) was also placed on the 10-day DL last week. He had struggled with throwing the ball during the series after the Milwaukee Brewers and the back soreness may have contributed to his problems. He must be examined before he can start baseball activities again but will be out for another week or two at least.

When Will Cespedes Comeback?

Yoenis Cespedes (hip) started a running program and could very soon start a rehab assignment. Cespedes has already missed two weeks and the Mets have desperately needed his bat in the lineup. The rehab assignment should start next weekend and the Mets will be very careful with Cespedes. He has a long history of leg injuries and problems.

Todd Frazier (hamstring) started a rehab assignment with the Las Vegas 51s on Thursday. He hopes to return during this week’s series against the Orioles. This was the first time that he has ever been on the DL and the Mets have missed him at third base. It will be interesting to see if Frazier’s return will be the reason Jose Reyes is DFA’d.

Anthony Swarzak (oblique) is set to start a rehab assignment this week. He is scheduled to pitch Tuesday, Friday and Saturday and it will be the first time he has pitched in two months. Swarzak should be expected to return once his rehab assignment ends and the Mets need him badly. The bullpen has been absolutely dreadful and it showed once again Saturday night against the Cubs.

David Wright (back, shoulder) played catch in the outfield on Thursday which is his first real baseball activity in months. Sandy Alderson expects him to ramp it up in 1-3 weeks which would start his long road back to the big leagues. There is no telling to what he actually has left in the tank but Mets fans would love to see him play before he officially hangs it up.

Travis d’Arnaud and Rafael Montero (Tommy John Surgery) are still held out of baseball activities for the rest of the season. T.J. Rivera (TJS) is also waiting at least another month to start baseball activities.

Another round of New York Mets are landing on the DL, leading to more roster call-ups. The once deep Mets outfield is slowly becoming depleted.

Depleted Outfield

Juan Lagares (hyperextended left big toe and torn plantar plate) has landed on the 10-day DL after he suffered the injury after making a play during the Toronto Blue Jays series. Lagares will undergo surgery and is out for the rest of the season. He was the best defensive outfielder on the team and was having a great start to his season by batting .339. The Mets signed Ezequiel Carrera to a minor league deal in case the Mets need another outfielder.

Yoenis Cespedes (right hip flexor strain) was placed on the 10-day DL about a week ago. Cespedes spent the last few weeks visibly playing through pain and the Mets decided it was time to give him a break. He should be able to return by the end of the month and will hopefully be 100% again. The Mets called up Phillip Evans to take his place on the 25-man roster.

Hansel Robles (sprained right knee) was placed on the 10-day DL about a week and a half ago. The Mets do not have a timeframe for Robles to return but will likely keep him out as long as they can. He had allowed runs in more than half of the games he pitched in this season.

Lingering Injuries

Todd Frazier (left hamstring strain) does not expect to return soon. Frazier originally hoped that he would spend the minimum amount of time on the DL but his hamstring is not fully recovered. He hopes to go on a rehab assignment soon and return by the end of the month. Wilmer Flores has done a good job replacing him in the lineup and the Mets signed Christian Colon as a reinforcement for future injuries.

Anthony Swarzak (oblique) has resumed long tossing but is not quite ready to go on a mound yet. Swarzak has been out since the beginning of April after only pitching in two games. Swarzak was put on the 60-day DL and cannot be activated until the end of May. The Mets hope to have him back in early June.

David Wright (back, shoulder) is going to visit a doctor at the end of May which will decide whether or not he resumes baseball activities. The 35-year old captain is still fighting for his career but the odds are stacked against him to make a comeback. Whether you are frustrated with Wright or not, we are all pulling for him to make a return to the big leagues, even if it is for just one game.

Kevin Plawecki (hand) looks to begin a rehab assignment within the next few days. After fracturing his hand, the Mets catching position has been a revolving door. Plawecki hopes to return by the end of May and will give the Mets two respectable catchers on their roster.

T.J. Rivera (elbow) will be out until July the earliest as he is still recovering from Tommy John Surgery. Travis d’Arnaud and Rafael Montero also underwent Tommy John Surgery and will continue to be sidelined for the season.

After the New York Mets remained relatively healthy in April, the injuries started to pile up in May. As a result, once the calendar flipped it brought some new names to the injury report.

Buddy Baumann (suspension) was called up for Friday’s game against the Phillies but will not be activated until Saturday. He served a one game suspension following his role in a bench clearing brawl between the San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies. Not a true injury but he will be replacing Hansel Robles on the roster.

Hansel Robles (knee) suffered the injury while trying to field a ground ball in the series against the Cincinnati Reds. He landed on the 10-day DL with no timetable to return. Robles allowed five home runs in 10.1 innings and fans were growing tired of him.

Best of Luck to the Bruce Family 

Jay Bruce (wife having a baby) will be unavailable for the next few games. Bruce will be waiting for the birth of his child with his wife. Bruce has struggled to start the year and a couple days off could set him straight. The team recalled Dominic Smith to take his spot on the roster. We wish all the best to Jay and his wife.

Anthony Swarzak (oblique) was transferred from the 10-day DL to the 60-day DL. He has only pitched 3.1 innings this season because of the oblique injury. Unfortunately, the injury is more severe than when it was first diagnosed. He will not be expected back until June, the earliest.

Todd Frazier (left hamstring strain) was put on the 10-day DL on Tuesday after playing almost every game to start the season. Frazier has said he expects to be back on the field as soon as his DL stint ends. The platoon of Jose Reyes, Wilmer Flores and now Luis Guillorme figure to get more playing time over the next week.

The Return of deGrom

Jacob deGrom (right elbow) is scheduled to pitch on Sunday against the Philadelphia Phillies. deGrom threw 43 pitches in a simulated game on Tuesday and manager Mickey Callaway said “everything went better than expected.” The injury occurred on a swing and the Mets have told him not to swing the bat during his next start. deGrom said he could have pitched through the injury but the Mets were very cautious on their ace.

David Wright (back, shoulder) is still a long time away from getting back to baseball activities as he sits on the 60-day DL. It is very unlikely he will return this season and will continue to be a regular on the injury report.

Kevin Plawecki (left hand) expects to start his rehab assignment next week. He suffered the injury after taking a high 90s fastball off his hand against the Miami Marlins. The Mets look to have Plawecki back at the end of the month and the Mets would welcome him back with open arms. The tandem of Devin Mesoraco and Plawecki is not amazing but the team can certainly compete with them behind the plate.

Two of the three Tommy John Surgery bros, Rafael Montero and Travis d’Arnaud, will be sidelined for the entire season. The other one, T.J. Rivera, will be out until July the earliest. Rivera has not progressed as quickly as he would like and still has a lot of hoops to jump through before he thinks about getting back to game action.