TODAY: Montero is headed back to New York this weekend and will undergo Tommy John surgery soon, MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo tweets.
YESTERDAY: Mets righty Rafael Montero has been diagnosed with a complete UCL tear, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports on Twitter. It is expected that he’ll require Tommy John surgery.
The news represents the latest disappointment for a pitcher who was once viewed as a future part of the New York rotation. Entering the coming season without an option year remaining, Montero had been fighting for one of the final bullpen slots this spring. He has allowed an earned run for each of the nine Grapefruit League innings he threw and therefore was already at risk of being outrighted.
To this point, Montero has worked to a middling 5.38 ERA in his 192 1/3 MLB innings. But he had earned his most extensive action to date in 2017 as the club dealt with a bevy of injuries, and there were some positive signs. Montero sat at 94 mph with his fastball, recorded a personal-best 10.1% swinging-strike rate, and drew groundballs at a 48.1% rate. He was likely unlucky to have surrendered a .366 BABIP, too, with Statcast showing a big split in his xwOBA (.316) and wOBA (.362).
For Montero to earn another shot at the majors, he’ll first have to undergo an extensive rehab process. The 27-year-old will accrue a full season of MLB service time while recovering, meaning he’ll be eligible for arbitration next fall. Though Montero likely won’t command a terribly steep rate of pay, salary and roster pressures may well compel the Mets to remove him from the 40-man at some point.
Drop his ass
Another mets injury. And in other news the sky is blue.
Preaching to the choir.
One way to keep him on the Mets without losing him or using 40 man. Joking aside, hopefully he heels over he next year and half and becomes what his potential first suggested. Tough break for the guy.
Wasn’t he a long shot to make the roster?
Yes, and likely to be traded.
His most valuable contribution to the Mets will be as sacrificial lamb to the baseball gods.
Should have traded him when they had the chance
Should have been done about 4 years ago.
Should have picked up some bitcoin then, too.
I blame Rick Peterson.
?
I was being facetious.
All of the vowels appearing in alphabetical order.
Even better would be facetiously. That would give you the “sometimes” y.
The Mets’ injury curse claims another.
NO! NOT MONTERO!!!
How is this bad news?
Because it’s a severe detriment to a young player’s career. An injury he may not make it back from, effectively ending his career. Just because it doesn’t have too much of an effect on the Mets doesn’t mean it’s not unfortunate news. Show some class
Most TJ patients return stronger than when they started. I’ve given it thought if it should be considered bioengineering
That is not true
An interview with the late Dr. Jobe………..
Baseball Prospectus : Speaking of getting back to where you were before and getting back to elbows, we’ve heard from quite a few pitchers, swearing they throw harder after Tommy John surgery than they did before. Is this possible?
Dr. Frank Jobe : When a pitcher comes in with elbow problems, you often see that their ligaments were already wearing out well before. Maybe four or five years ago they could throw a 95 mile an hour fastball, but they’ve had that ability diminished as the ligament’s been stretched. What the surgery does is restore the ligament’s stability to where it was four or five years ago. A pitcher might say the operation did it, but it’s just more stability in the arm contributing to better mechanics.
static.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/bp/1431308.html
cat – do we have a date on this article?
The only date listed Friday Sept. 13th. Dr Jobe passed in 2014 so I would guess it was 2013 as that was the last year to have a Friday the 13th in Sept. It’s not like the date changes the fact.
In fact a study done a few years ago clearly show that on average, the pitchers that do make is back for more than 10 games (only 67% did that) the velo drops while ERA, WHIP, BAA, all rise. TJS is not a miracle cure or enhancement. That is an old wives tale akin to those who think HS kids should get TJS to avoid it in the future.
Have to wonder how long it has been even partially torn as he seems to have lost his control a while ago.
Being a NY Met is starting to be considered a pre-existing condition.
Tough break for the guy. Never quite put it together but he looked like a guy who could have been a back of rotation starter.
You are not Jewish, and I am sick of reading all your anti-semetic trolling here. Are Yankee fans always nuts? Is that like a prequesit to being a Yankee fan is one has to be emotionally unstable and a regular reader of the Protocols of Zion?
@mikeyank55
He WAS here, but deleted his comment after he got called out. Gotta love trolls…on MLB pages…about rumors.
Bet Tommy John lives forever in baseball. You should just get it in High School and get it out of the way.
Dkaner………….Please tell me that is sarcasm
Has anyone on the Mets Starting pitching staff not had TJ? Harvey , Degrom, Matz, Wheeler , Vargas, Montero.
Lugo has too!
Er, meant he has a partially torn UCL but is avoiding it… for now.
^^Tha fu€k??