Top pitching prospect Jenrry Mejia appears headed for Tommy John surgery. Here’s the team’s release:
Righthanded pitcher Jenrry Mejia was examined today by Mets Medical Director Dr. David Altchek and was found to have a complete MCL tear of the right elbow. Mejia underwent an MRI at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. Surgical treatment has been recommended, but Mejia is expected to seek a second opinion.
In his last start for Buffalo (AAA) of the International League on April 29, he left after 4.0 innings with discomfort and was flown to New York to be examined. In five starts for the Bisons, Mejia was 1-2 with a 2.86 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 28.1 innings. Mejia went 0-4 with a 4.62 ERA in 33 games, three starts for New York in 2010.
Ouch. It seems the pitchers of today have this as a ritual. Like a birthright. At least Jenrry is very young, and we’ll have plenty of time to work around this.