New York Mets lefty reliever to undergo Tommy John surgery

Young, who turns 31 later this month, appeared in a career-high 42 games last season for New York, posting a 4.54 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 11.5 K/9 rate in 37.2 innings. He had a 4.32 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 8.1 innings this season before landing on the injured list Wednesday.

According to Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, Young had been dealing with forearm issues for a few weeks and had difficulty recovering. Imaging revealed a sprained ligament in his left elbow, and after seeking a second opinion, surgery was officially recommended. Mendoza indicated Sunday that Young still has to make a decision.

Season-ending surgery is also on the table for Minter, who was recently transferred to the 60-day injured list with a left lat strain. Young was set to become the Mets’ primary left-handed bullpen arm in Minter’s absence but was shut down just a few days after Minter.

“This is about as bad a timing as you can get,” Young told reporters Wednesday night. “It’s unfortunate. I obviously want to pick up the slack. This is the situation we’re in now.”

Read More: Former Mets pitcher signs major league deal with Blue Jays

Currently, the only southpaw in the Mets’ bullpen is Génesis Cabrera, who was called up from Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday. The 28-year-old owns a 3.91 ERA through 273 career MLB appearances.

New York also recently re-signed Brooks Raley, who served as their primary left-handed reliever last season before undergoing Tommy John surgery in May. His contract includes a club option for 2026, and he could factor into their plans by the second half of the current season.