Mets reliever Bobby Parnell is still working his way back from Tommy John surgery by doing rehab. The team would greatly benefit from his return, but the Mets bullpen has been doing fine so far this season.
The Mets bullpen ranks 2nd in the NL in ERA despite the absence of Parnell, Jenrry Mejia. Vic Black and Josh Edgin. Jeurys Familia has excelled as closer. Parnell has taken notice.
“Like I said from the beginning, we’ve got a good bullpen,” said Parnell. “We’ve got good arms down there. It really benefits me from a selfish standpoint, because I know these guys can do it.” (Anthony DiComo, MLB.com)
“I can take my time and be 100 percent when I get here. If they were struggling and I had to come up here early, it would be detrimental to me. But they’re pitching their butts off. Familia’s throwing outstanding. It’s fun to watch.”
Parnell went through a little setback in his rehab last week. He went for testing after experiencing some right forearm soreness that he couldn’t shake. He was relieved when he discovered there was no structural damage in his arm.
He plans to throw off flat ground on Thursday. If it all goes well, the setback should not keep out much longer than he originally planned and he could be back sometime in May.
“It wasn’t what I wanted,” said Parnell. “But it is part of the rehab.”
Parnell has been throwing his fastballs in the high 80s and low 90s in his rehab, which is a dropoff from the usual 95-plus he throws. He will rest rather than force his way through rehab in order to rediscover that velocity.
“Deep down, I feel like it really wants to get out,” said Parnell. “I feel like after these next few days, it’s going to show itself. I’m confident.”
With the Mets bullpen pitching well, Parnell will take his time and watch them do their thing. He won’t be alone in Port St. Lucie as David Wright will begin rehab to come back from the strained right hamstring with the goal of trying to come back this weekend.
Both Wright and Parnell will stay in Florida as long as they will in order to get back to full strength.
“I want to be here for sure, but the goal is to be here and help the team in the end,” said Parnell. “It’s how you finish, not how you start.”
With the Mets bullpen off to a good start, there’s not much reason for Parnell to rush back. Just like he said, the goal is to be 100% ready and the Mets will greatly benefit even more with Parnell back to throwing his normal 95+ mph stuff.
