The New York Mets will be without starting pitcher Jacob deGrom for the remainder of the 2016 season. The team shut deGrom down for the rest of the year and confirmed he may have to have elbow surgery on his right elbow. The news could not have come at a worst time on the promotional calendar, as today was “Jacob deGrom Hair-Hat” day at Citi Field in New York.
The first 15,000 fans attending tonight’s game in New York were handed a Mets hat with long hair flowing from the bottom, mimicking DeGrom’s signature style. The giveaway went on as planned regardless of the injury news.
News of deGrom needing elbow surgery on the same night as Jacob deGrom Hair Hat night is the most Mets thing EVER pic.twitter.com/ycEdznU9Zz
— Clem (@TheClemReport) September 17, 2016
“He threw a bullpen yesterday and felt great, but went out to shag in the outfield and threw a ball and he had some pain as a result,” said Mets GM Sandy Alderson, via the New York Daily News. “So he will not pitch (Sunday) and I think it’s unlikely that he will pitch the rest of the season. We’ll see.”
Alderson said deGrom will be shut down for the season. Likely to have ulnar nerve surgery on right elbow. @Mets
— Barry M. Bloom (@Boomskie) September 17, 2016
The loss of deGrom is clearly a blow to whatever chances the Mets had of making it back to the postseason a year after winning the National League pennant to reach the World Series for the first time since 2000. Of course, figuring out exactly what the Mets’ chances were continues to be a mystery to all of us. The Mets are 9.5 games out of first place in the NL East behind Washington, so the best chance the Mets have to make the postseason will come via the wild card. The Mets are currently holding the second wild card spot in the National League, with the San Francisco Giants holding the first.
The Mets have been riding a hot streak of late, winning seven of the last 10 to remain in the playoff hunt, as the Cardinals have gone in a bit of a free fall and the Marlins and Pirates have been unable to take advantage.
So the Mets may be done. Or they may be fine. Nobody really knows what to expect. But whatever happens will have to happen without deGrom, and that’s not a good situation for the Mets no matter how you look at it.
