Latest news with #A.J.Minter
New York Post
09-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Mets' A.J. Minter eyes healthy 2026 after ‘frustrating' season-ending lat injury
Access the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Try it free The Mets will be without A.J. Minter for the rest of this season and perhaps into next year, with the left-hander set for surgery to repair a torn lat. Minter, speaking for the first time Friday since making the decision to undergo surgery next week, said the procedure comes with a 10-12 month rehab process. Advertisement If all goes well, Minter said he could have a 'normal-ish' spring training and then not be far off when the regular season begins. But he also noted the surgery — necessary because he tore the lat off the bone on April 26 against the Nationals — is rare, so there's not much information to go off of. The 31-year-old signed a two-year, $22 million deal with the Mets in the offseason that contains an opt-out after this year. 3 Mets pitcher A.J. Minter (33) throws in the eighth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST Advertisement Minter's season ended with Atlanta last year with hip surgery in August. He called the injury 'super frustrating.' 'I was starting to feel so good,'' said Minter, who hadn't given up a run in his previous 12 appearances and struck out 13 batters in 10 innings during that stretch. 'I wish I knew what caused it.' Advertisement CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND METS STATS He pointed to an increase in velocity and added range of motion in his hip as possibilities, but Minter's main focus, he said, is getting healthy for 2026. 'I was excited to help this team,' Minter said. 'It's a special team. I'll help this team next year.' 3 Mets pitcher A.J. Minter (33) reacts in the eighth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field on Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Queens, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST Advertisement Minter's injury, coupled with Danny Young's Tommy John surgery, leaves the Mets with just one lefty in the pen, Genesis Cabrera. Mark Vientos sat for a second straight game, with Mendoza saying he wanted as many left-handed hitters in the lineup against Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon. Mendoza said Jeff McNeil would have started in center field if he hadn't a hamstring cramp Wednesday. So McNeil served as the DH, with fellow lefty hitter Brett Baty at third base for two consecutive games and Vientos on the bench again. The Mets injured starting pitchers are getting closer to a return, with lefty Sean Manaea (oblique) ready to play catch off a mound and up to 120 feet and right-hander Frankie Montas preparing to face hitters in live batting practice in about a week for the first time since suffering a lat strain. 3 Sean Manaea looks for a fan to throw a ball to at Citi Field. JASON SZENES/ NY POST Paul Blackburn is scheduled to start for Triple-A Syracuse Sunday and is 'progressing well,' Mendoza said. Advertisement The right-hander — sidelined with right knee inflammation — is being built up to 70-75 pitches before he returns to the rotation. Mendoza pointed to Juan Soto 'maybe not hitting as many balls on the ground as earlier' as one of the reasons his numbers have begun to return to normal. Soto entered Friday in the midst of a seven-game stretch in which he's gone 9-for-26, with six extra-base hits (two doubles and four homers) with six walks in his last 33 plate appearances. Advertisement 'He's a special hitter,' the manager said. 'We knew at some point it was gonna turn around. … He's using the whole field and getting the ball off the ground a little more.' Ronny Mauricio will have to wait until Saturday to play his first game with Double-A Binghamton after Friday's game was canceled because of inclement weather. Binghamton is set to play Reading on Saturday. Advertisement In five games with Class-A St. Lucie, Mauricio, on a rehab assignment from a torn ACL suffered playing winter ball two offseasons ago, went 2-for-15 with a pair of stolen bases and played second base, third and shortstop. MLB announced Friday that Francisco Lindor was credited with a stolen base from Wednesday's game after the play was originally ruled defensive indifference. And an error charged to Pete Alonso on Monday was changed to a hit for Arizona's Alek Thomas.
Reuters
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Mets LHP A.J. Minter (lat strain) considering season-ending surgery
April 30 - New York Mets reliever A.J. Minter will miss significant time and is considering season-ending surgery after sustaining a left lat strain, manager Carlos Mendoza said on Tuesday. Minter said he was gathering information from doctors reviewing his injury. "I have no idea, honestly," said Minter, 31. "I'm still waiting." The left-hander last pitched on Saturday, recording one strikeout and one walk in one-third of an inning when he was injured in the Mets' 2-0 win at the Washington Nationals. He was placed on the 15-day injured list on Sunday, but the Mets are looking much further ahead. Minter could choose rest and rehabilitation, which means he potentially could return this season, or undergo season-ending surgery. "All we know right now is we're dealing with a pretty significant injury here," Mendoza said. "It's a big blow, I'm not going to lie. "Not only because of his ability to throw in high leverage, but his ability to get lefties and righties (out). It's a big blow for sure, but guys will step up. Guys will continue to get opportunities and we got to keep going. Sucks for him. Especially going down this early." In his first season with New York after spending his career with the Atlanta Braves (2017-24), Minter is 0-0 with a 1.64 ERA, five walks and 14 strikeouts in 11 innings over 13 relief appearances. He had signed as a free agent in January to a two-year, $22 million contract that includes an opt-out after this season -- which is less likely now. Minter underwent season-ending left hip surgery last September involving a labrum repair, hip impingement and a lesion on the femur. He originally delayed the surgery with a month of rest last season, idling from May until he returned in July. He is 24-29 in his career with 36 saves, a 3.23 ERA, 128 walks and 436 strikeouts in 359 2/3 innings over 397 regular-season relief appearances. Minter also is 3-1 with a 2.88 ERA, eight walks and 36 strikeouts in 25 innings over 20 playoff games (one start) and was member of the Braves' 2021 World Series championship team. The Mets made several pitching moves on Tuesday, recalling right-hander Kevin Herget from Triple-A Syracuse, designating right-hander Jose Urena for assignment, re-signing free agent left-hander Brooks Raley and transferring Sean Manaea (strained right oblique) from the 15- to the 60-day injured list. Raley, a big part of the Mets' bullpen in 2023, immediately was placed on the 15-day injured list as he is recovering from Tommy John surgery performed in May 2024.
New York Post
28-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Mets place A.J. Minter on 15-day IL, will bring up potential sixth starter
WASHINGTON — A.J. Minter officially hit the 15-day injured list on Sunday after he was diagnosed with a lat strain, but the extent of the injury wasn't immediately clear to manager Carlos Mendoza. Access the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Try it free After the Mets' 8-7 loss to the Nationals, Mendoza said he had to consult with the medical staff about a prognosis. The lefty reliever was scheduled to receive an MRI exam earlier in the day. Advertisement Minter on Saturday cited discomfort in his triceps as the reason for his departure in the eighth inning. In need of a fresh arm, the Mets selected José Ureña from Triple-A Syracuse to take Minter's roster spot. Ureña, who was available from the bullpen on Sunday, was chosen in part because he is stretched out and can provide multiple innings in an outing. 3 Mets reliever A.J. Minter walks off the mound with a trainer during Saturday's game. AP Advertisement The Mets will utilize a sixth starter on Wednesday and could choose Ureña for that spot if he isn't needed from the bullpen beforehand. But the team is leaning toward bringing up left-hander Brandon Waddell from Syracuse to start or pitch behind an opener against the Diamondbacks. 3 A.J. Minter AP Ronny Mauricio was placed on a minor league rehab assignment with Single-A St. Lucie. The infielder is rehabbing from surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and subsequent procedure to remove scar tissue that cost him all of last season. Advertisement Mendoza said he chose to stick with Starling Marte against right-hander Jackson Rutledge rather than use Jesse Winker as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning with runners on second and third because of the particular matchup. Marte grounded out and the Mets didn't score in the inning. 'It was a pretty even matchup there,' Mendoza said. 'And knowing that the cutter was an effective pitch there, I knew I had Winker, but I trust Marte in that particular situation to get the job done. It just didn't happen this time. … The cutter is a pitch that is giving Winker some trouble and I stuck with Marte there.' Advertisement After finishing the sixth inning at 92 pitches, Tylor Megill was determined to return for the seventh. 3 Tylor Megill Getty Images 'I told Mendy I wanted to go back out there,' Megill said, referring to Mendoza. 'The bullpen has been working [a lot], so I wanted to go back out and give another inning and save the bullpen.' Megill was charged for two runs in the inning — Juan Soto lost a fly ball for a double to begin the Nationals rally — before he was removed with one out. It was Megill's first time working beyond 5 ¹/₃ innings in his six starts this season.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mets reliever A.J. Minter pleased with 'successful' spring debut
Left-hander reliever A.J. Minter figures to be a huge piece of the Mets' bullpen this season, and the veteran took a big step in his recovery from hip surgery on Wednesday when he made his Grapefruit League debut against the St Louis Cardinals. Minter, the former Atlanta Braves southpaw who signed a two-year deal with the Mets this offseason, pitched a perfect fifth inning on Wednesday in Jupiter, Fla., retiring the side on 10 pitches while striking out Alec Burleson on a cutter in the dirt. Minter's fastball sat around 93 mph, and while he said he expects that number to tick up as he ramps up, he told reporters that he was pleased overall with his first outing. Advertisement 'First time facing hitters in a game since [August 11], and, first one is always the hardest, but yeah, I was just excited to get out there and I think we definitely checked the box today and it was definitely successful,' Minter said. 'You want to see the swings and misses,' he added later. 'As a reliever, you want to come in and get strikeouts and you know, I was fortunate. I was happy with that I did get a strikeout today and some weak contact, so that just tells me that, you know, the ball's coming out the way I want.' Minter said on Wednesday that the plan now is for him to have two days off before pitching in game action again on Saturday. The veteran southpaw said that he's already thrown two or three live BP sessions this spring, and ideally he'd like to have around 10 combined appearances (games and live BP sessions) to feel comfortable heading into the season. Advertisement 'The hardest thing is just being patient and not pushing things, and we I think we've done a really good job of having a plan together and, saying no, telling me no when I need to be told no,' Minter said, 'and the training staff's been great, the coaching staff's been great. 'But yes, I was excited to get back out there and it was definitely a long time coming. It was a lot of hard work this offseason, and yeah, it's all starting to pay off.'
