The Mets have officially scratched an ace Jacob de Grom from tonight’s Grapefruit League performance, tweets Mike Puma of the New York Post. He will instead undergo an MRI after feeling a tightness in his right shoulder while catching yesterday. While there’s no indication yet that deGrom is battling a serious injury or likely to miss much time, the mere fact that he was scratched for imaging is an obvious cause for concern.
Expected to combine with newly signed couples Max Scherzer 33-year-old deGrom has already established himself as one of this generation’s most talented pitchers to form one of the big doubles. However, if he misses time with that shoulder condition, it will mark a second straight season of absence due to arm injuries.
In 2021, deGrom seemed on track for a third Cy Young in four years, posting an inhuman 1.08 ERA in his first 92 innings with a 45.1% strikeout rate versus a walk rate of just 3.4%. However, he hit the injury list in early July with a forearm strain. The injury was not originally thought to end the season, but after a series of setbacks and delays in his rehab work, the Mets eventually closed deGrom for the season in late September.
For now, the Mets won’t be on the list Felix Pena to the hill to make today’s spring beginning. Manager Buck Showalter is currently speaking to reporters about the matter and indicated that deGrom’s MRI will be performed around 9:30 a.m. ET (Twitter link via Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News). No decision will be made on deGrom’s availability for opening day until such imaging has been completed. DeGrom felt tension in his shoulder on the last few throws of a long toss session yesterday, Showalter added.
The Mets rely on deGrom, Scherzer, trade acquisition Chris Bassitt, Taijuan Walker and Carlo Carrasco to handle most of the rotation work this season, although beyond this quintet they have several solid depth options. Tylor Megil, David Petersen and Jordan Yamamoto are all already on the 40-man roster while an experienced southpaw Mike Montgomery gives them another experienced option who is in camp as a non-roster invitee.