Mets ace Jacob deGrom pleased with MRI results, Buck Showalter says
Jacob deGrom #48 of the Mets looks on after a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field on Friday, Apr. 15, 2022. Credit: Jim McIsaac
ST. LOUIS — The Mets say they are happy with how Jacob deGrom is healing, and apparently so is he.
Manager Buck Showalter spoke to the absent ace on Tuesday, a day after his latest MRI and CT scan showed “considerable healing,” the club said, though not considerable enough that he can begin throwing. Instead, he will be limited to a strengthening program for his injured right shoulder (scapula stress reaction).
“He’s really upbeat and excited about the news that the healing process is taking place,” Showalter said. “With a guy you’ve had that long, you’ve got a lot of imaging that you can compare it to. He’s chomping at the bit, because he’s ready to go and wants to come be a part of it and we do, too.
“I loved talking to him today. You can tell there was a real excitement in his voice, that now he can really start getting after it.”
The highly anticipated deGrom update late Monday night was good news in the sense that it wasn’t terrible news. His arm is still attached. But he is still well over a month away from returning, even in a best-case scenario, and the Mets have declined to provide or clarify certain details, such as what exactly he will be doing in the coming weeks and whether it is possible he begins throwing before his next round of images in about three weeks.
In the meantime, Showalter will continue to lean on a deGrom-less rotation that entering Tuesday was second in the majors with a 2.29 ERA (behind the Dodgers’ 2.09).
When those involved expressed confidence weeks ago that it would hold up without deGrom, it was largely blind faith. Now, there is some evidence to back it up.
“It’s been good,” Showalter said. “I’m not going to sit here and say we knew. But tonight is another challenge, tomorrow is another challenge, the Phillies are playing a lot better, it looks like. Stay tuned.”
Cano struggles
In his first weeks back from a yearlong PED suspension, Robinson Cano has struggled in a part-time role, taking a .184/.225/.263 slash line into Tuesday, when he was out of the lineup against the Cardinals. He had one extra-base hit in 38 at-bats.
He isn’t worried, he said.
“Maybe it’s not going my way right now, but we’re just starting,” Cano said. “This is something that I always say: It’s not how you start. It’s how you finish. It’s a long season.”
But it might be getting late early. On Monday, rosters must be trimmed from 28 to 26 players. The Mets are facing difficult decisions, and it is not clear how seriously they would consider dumping Cano, who is making $24 million this year and whom some regard as a respected veteran leader.
“You’re never going to be productive the whole season,” Cano said. “You’re always going to have ups and downs."
Welcome back
The Mets signed reliever Tommy Hunter to a minor-league deal. He pitched in four games for the team in 2021 (including one in which he batted, singled and called it the highlight of his career). He will report to Port St. Lucie, Florida, to get in game shape after missing a year as a result of a back injury that required surgery.
Hunter, 35, pitched for Showalter’s Orioles from 2011-16 (and the Hunters still send a Christmas card to the Showalters every year, according to the manager).
“We’re going to give him an opportunity,” Showalter said. “He’ll have to take it and run with it. He’s got a lot of competition.”
Extra bases
Trevor May has allowed six earned runs in 6 1/3 innings (8.53 ERA). “It’s almost like he wants it too much,” Showalter said. “I’m not going to take that away from him.” . . . Showalter on Taijuan Walker (right shoulder bursitis): “I walked by him and he said, ‘Don’t ask. I’m ready.’” He will pitch Saturday against the Phillies . . . The Mets-Cardinals series finale will be at 12:15 p.m. local time (1:15 p.m. ET). “We got a quick turnaround,” a dumbfounded Showalter said. “Real quick. I’m not real sure of the thought process behind that.”
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
