The Mets will be without right-handed reliever Drew Smith for the entirety of the 2019 season, as manager Mickey Callaway announced to reporters today that Smith will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow tomorrow (Twitter link via Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News). Smith had recently complained of soreness in his elbow and traveled back to New York to have the elbow examined.
Smith, 25, made his MLB debut with the Mets in 2018, pitching to a 3.54 ERA with 5.8 K/9, 1.9 BB/9, 0.64 HR/9 and a 38 percent ground-ball rate in 28 innings of relief. He’d pitched his way into that big league promotion with a solid showing in the hitter-friendly confines of Triple-A Las Vegas, where he posted a 2.76 ERA with 8.3 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 in 33 2/3 innings of work.
Acquired in the trade that sent first baseman Lucas Duda to the Rays in July 2017, Smith looked to have the potential to serve as a prominent piece in the Mets’ relief corps in 2019. While New York already has a quintet of established relievers — Edwin Diaz, Jeurys Familia, Justin Wilson, Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman — there were at least a pair of openings for which Smith and others could vie in camp. And, if at some point during the season, the Mets were to switch to an eight-man bullpen, the opportunities for Smith would only have increased.
Instead, he’ll sit out the season and spend the year rehabbing with an eye toward 2020 and beyond. The Mets still control Smith through at least the 2024 season, and it’s likely that he’ll accrue a year of service by spending the 2019 campaign on the Major League 60-day injured list (thus allowing the Mets to open a spot on the 40-man roster).
[Insert Mets’ injury pun here]
Let’s go Mets
The Metropolitan Hospital continues…
yikes, he seemed like a nice young arm. well, guess that makes the outcome less surprising…
Here is the first in what unfortunately will become a large list of pitchers. List starts to build up between now and the start of the season. The scary part is their is no guarantee they will ever be the same again. I wish Drew the best of luck.
Bullpen situation just got a little more clear
I’m sorry Drew. Work hard and get healthy and we’ll see you at Citi soon.
He says thank you
Hey says it’s all ok. Ces reaches out and he will be able to join him in the golf courses this summer. What a great teammate—so worth the $25 million.
*maybe
“I don’t always get TJ surgery, but when I do, I make sure I’m accruing service time. Stay rehabbing my friends.”
Announcer man-
“Each Mets pitching contract, comes with a certificate for one complimentary Tommy John Surgery. Plus, today only, half price on all shoulder surgeries! Act now, offer won’t last.”
Plus, if you act now: An all expenses paid trip* to meet Matt Harvey
*When the Angels visit NYC. We’re cheap, what else did you expect?
Yes King. The promotion only works when you enter “TC Made Me Do It” on the sign up form. He’s the one singly responsible for Matt Harvey by
making him blow past his surgeon’s imposed innings limit.
Good luck Smitty, God speed
DT
Just brutal. These guys work so hard and wait so long to get their MLB dreams to come true. Always sucks to read about injuries like this.
I don’t get it. It seems almost mandatory that every pitcher will eventually have TJS. Is it poor lower body mechanics, too many sliders? Trying to throw 100%/max velocity?
All of the above plus weak muscle balance to protect it and incorrect nutrition. Avoid sugar and carbohydrates to a minimum.
This is a shame. Out of all the ridicolous moves the Mets made in trading Duda,Familia,Granderson,Caberera,Bautista They got nothing for all of them but the one piece I liked alot was Drew Smith and he actually looked like he was coming into his own. Its a shame hes out not for almost two seasons. Good luck Drew