The New York Mets will not get an influx of talent into the bullpen this week following a troubling update on an injured reliever ahead of a matchup against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday, May 7.
New York pulled left-hander A.J. Minter off his rehab assignment, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. The reliever was working his way back from lat surgery. He’s now dealing with a hip injury. The Mets news comes with the team in the midst of a three-game winning streak.
Minter has pitched well in the minors, posting a 1.17 ERA across 7.2 innings. He was nearing the end of his allotted 30-day rehab, which meant a return to the Mets was coming soon. Instead, he’ll reset the clock with this new injury.
New York Mets News Update: A.J. Minter Suffers New Injury, Pulled Off Rehab Assignment
The hip issue will prevent Minter from making his season debut until he can get back on the mound with Triple-A Syracuse. The lefty won’t have his rehab clock start until he shows he’s healthy again. That could push his return into June, if the Mets wished to keep him in the minors for that long. The more likely scenario is Minter rejoining the club after another appearance or two.
Minter was a breakout star in the Mets bullpen last season. He delivered a 1.64 ERA over 13 appearances as the setup man ahead of closer Edwin Diaz. The veteran posted a tremendous 31.8% strikeout rate, though it came with an 11.4% walk rate. Minter hit the injured list with the lat injury in late April. The issue ultimately required surgery, forcing Minter to the 60-day IL.
The Mets signed Minter to a two-year, $22 million deal heading into the 2025 campaign. He’d spent the first eight seasons as a big leaguer with the NL East rival Atlanta Braves. Minter was a key cog in Atlanta’s bullpen for several years, even serving as the closer on occasion. The lefty had double-digit saves in multiple seasons with the Braves. Minter earned a win and a hold in the 2021 World Series against the Houston Astros.
Can the Mets’ Bullpen Keep Performing Well?
Outside of a few high-profile meltdowns, the Mets’ bullpen is off to a solid start. The unit ranks 12th in the league with a 3.82 ERA. The underlying metrics suggest New York’s relievers have been even better than that ERA. The group ranks eighth with a 3.66 xERA and third with a 3.50 xFIP. The Mets’ bullpen has the fourth-most strikeouts in the league.
Closer Devin Williams has settled in after a rocky beginning to his Mets tenure. The righty has put together five straight scoreless outings. He’s picked up saves in each of his last three appearances. Setup man Luke Weaver has recovered from allowing a game-losing home run to CJ Abrams by recording 3.1 scoreless frames in May. Brooks Raley, the top lefty in the bullpen with Minter out, has a crisp 1.29 ERA. His 34.0% strikeout rate is one of the best of his career. The addition of Minter could make this a truly elite unit.
Mets Announce Disappointing News on $22 Million Reliever