Johan Santana Faces Rehab Setback

Last night the Mets admitted that starting pitcher Johan Santana has faced a setback during his rehab process.  Santana is heading to New York Thursday to have his shoulder examined after the lefty experienced “lingering discomfort”.

Attention was placed on Santana after he was scratched from a rehab start, but Mets general manager Sandy Alderson did not classify the event as a setback.  He has since changed his stance, and while he’s unable to characterize it, he Alderson says that the discomfort has gotten to the point where Santana wants to have his shoulder examined.

"“Right now, it’s a matter of Johan proceeding at his own pace,” Alderson said. “He’s going to have to be sensitive to how his body responds to increased workload. I wouldn’t say it’s something that we expected to happen, but I think in the overall course of things, it’s probably not something that should be unexpected.”"

Santana has been recovering from shoulder surgery he underwent last September to repair a torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder.  With the progress he had been making, New York originally hoped Santana could return by the end of August.  However, with this latest setback, it is unlikely he will be back with the club before September.

Regardless of what’s discovered Thursday, the Mets are planning to keep Santana out of minor league games until next Monday in order to allow him a new 30-day rehab period.

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