New York Mets acting general manager Sandy Alderson addressed right-hander Jacob deGrom's forearm injury on Tuesday, telling reporters (including Tim Healey of Newsday) that the club's ace had suffered a low-grade strain of his ulnar collateral ligament.
"The ligament is perfectly intact at this point," Alderson said, per Healey. "Whatever condition existed before, it's resolved itself."
DeGrom, 33 , has not pitched has not pitched since early July because of the injury. Alderson seemed unsure if deGrom will return before the 2021 campaign ends. "I don't expect he is going to get ramped up higher than 75 percent before we have an idea where this is going," Alderson told Mike Puma of the New York Post. "In terms of him pitching the rest of the season, I think that is still very much up in the air."
DeGrom was filmed throwing on flat ground prior to the Mets game on Tuesday night against the Miami Marlins.
Last week, MLB.com's Anthony DiComo reported that deGrom was about 10 days away from resuming bullpen sessions. As DiComo noted then, deGrom's return would be predicated on ramping up to in-game action, a process that will likely require several more weeks. Even if everything goes off without a hitch, deGrom would probably be limited to a truncated appearance or two in the regular season.
In 15 starts this season, deGrom had performed with his typical brilliance. He had amassed a 1.08 ERA (366 ERA+) and a 13.27 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 92 innings. Unfortunately for the Mets, deGrom had dealt with a number of injuries along the way, including right-side tightness that necessitated a trip to the injured list.
The Mets entered Tuesday with a 69-69 record on the season, putting them four games back in the National League East and 4 1/2 games behind the Cincinnati Reds for the NL's second wild card spot. It stands to reason that the Mets may shut down deGrom for the year if they're unable to make up ground in the coming days.
