New York Mets Starter Zack Wheeler to Have Minor Surgery
By Nick Fustor
The New York Mets were hoping that Zack Wheeler would return sometime in July. That timeframe has been pushed back a couple of weeks.
After undergoing Tommy John Surgery last season, New York Mets right-hander Zack Wheeler will undergo a minor procedure in order to remove an undissolved stitch in his right forearm, per Adam Rubin of ESPN.com. The procedure is not considered serious, and the team believes that Wheeler will be able to resume his rehab within two weeks.
The undissolved stitch was said to have caused some pain in Wheeler’s forearm, and the procedure to remove it will be performed this coming Tuesday. It’s been a little over a year since Wheeler initially went under the knife for Tommy John, and it’s still expected that Wheeler will return in early July. Wheeler was hoping to return to the mound in January, but the Mets decided to hold off after the success of Matt Harvey‘s recovery from the procedure.
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Rubin added that a source told him that Wheeler’s MRI came back “super clean”. Wheeler last pitched for the Mets in 2014, and was on the fast track to becoming one of the team’s top starters after posting a 3.54 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 32 starts in 2014. During his rookie season in 2013, Wheeler posted similar numbers in only 100 innings pitched.
While Wheeler’s midseason return will likely be a welcome addition to an already dominant Mets starting rotation, the team will have some decisions to make regarding his insertion into the rotation.
With Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard firmly entrenched at the top of the rotation with promising young starter Steven Matz in the four spot, Wheeler will likely have to compete with veteran Bartolo Colon.
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Approaching his 43rd birthday, Colon still showed some fight last season after posting a 4.16 ERA and 3.84 FIP in 31 starts. A move to the bullpen may be in short order, but starting Wheeler in a long-relief role to shake off any rust could prove to be a wise decision.