Dillon Gee Expected to be Fully Healthy

‘s 2012 season was cut short, but he’s expecting to be fully healthy as he reports for Spring Training. (Image Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)

New York Mets right-hander Dillon Gee has been given the go-ahead to resume full workouts as he arrives at the team’s Spring Training complex and is expected to be ready to start the season with the team. Gee underwent unexpected surgery during last summer’s All Star Break to repair a damaged artery in his pitching shoulder that was causing circulation problems and leaving his right arm numb.

Gee complained to team doctors of the numbness as the midsummer break approached and once the team discovered the problem surgery was scheduled immediately, effectively shutting the 26 year old down for the season. He’d return to Citi Field in September to throw a few bullpen sessions before the team advised him to rest over the winter. Gee reportedly started to throw again over the past few weeks and saw the doctor who performed his surgery late this past week for a followup. There are still some concerns about numbness in his fingers if the temperature is too low, but there have already been some precautions taken to ensure that it won’t affect him on the mound, including a nitroglycerine cream he will be permitted to rub on his fingers when necessary.

Prior to having his season cut short Gee had made 17 starts for the Mets, going 6-7 with a 4.10 ERA over 109.2 innings. He had been posting career-bests with a 2.4 BB/9 and 8.0 K/9.

Gee will likely be the favorite to win the final spot in New York’s rotation when the season begins – behind Johan Santana, Jonathon Niese, Matt Harvey, and Shaun Marcum. How long he is able to remain in the rotation will largely depend on how well he pitches, as the team is expecting that top prospect Zack Wheeler will be ready by mid-season.