Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Well Mets fans, the Mets pitching depth has suffered yet another blow.
Sources have told Anthony Dicomo of MLB.com that New York Mets 10th-ranked prospect left-hander Thomas Szapucki will undergo season-ending ulnar nerve transposition surgery.
Szapucki has dealt with his fair-share of injury problems throughout his tenure in the organization. Over his career, Szapucki has missed time due to shoulder problems, back problems, and most notably he missed the 2018 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
It should be noted, as Dicomo points out, this is not an unusual procedure for players who undergo Tommy John, and both Jacob deGrom and Steven Matz needed this following their respective TJ surgeries.
Szapucki, of course, made his big league debut last month, pitching 3.2 innings in relief and allowing six runs on seven hits while walking three and striking out four against the Atlanta Braves.
He also struggled a bit with Triple-A Syracuse this season, posting a 6.05 ERA, 1.68 WHIP, and 41 strikeouts over ten outings. Although, he has pitched to a 3.76 ERA and has 229 strikeouts over five big league seasons.
He now joins fellow pitchers David Peterson, Jordan Yamamoto, Joey Lucchesi, Dellin Betances, Robert Gsellman, Sean Reid-Foley, Noah Syndergaard, Corey Oswalt, and Carlos Carrasco on the injured list.
Dicomo notes the Mets expect that Szapucki will be ready to roll for spring training next season.
