New York Mets starting pitcher Griffin Canning (46) lays on the ground after getting injured in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Mets lose key starting pitcher to brutal leg injury

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Jun 26, 2025 8:57 PM ET

Just two days after the New York Mets got one of their starting pitchers (Frankie Montas) back from injury, they lost another one to a potentially significant injury on Thursday night. Griffin Canning had to leave Thursday's game against the Atlanta Braves in the third inning after delivering a pitch and immediately falling to the ground with a non-contact injury.

Griffin Canning is leaving the game with an apparent leg injury pic.twitter.com/FAKwmx66un
— SNY (@SNYtv) June 26, 2025

The immediate concern with a non-contact leg injury where a player immediately falls to the ground in that matter is a potential Achilles injury, which is what the Mets broadcast alluded to when it referenced Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton in the NBA Finals.

Mets pitcher Griffin Canning exits after suffering a non-contact leg injury.

Ron Darling: "Calf or Achilles... You don't see baseball players go down like that very often... My mind might have been just biased from watching the NBA Finals and watching Haliburton... Apologies." pic.twitter.com/n6rE0Qg87h
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 27, 2025

After the game, manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed that the team thinks it's an Achilles injury.

The Mets signed Canning to a one-year contract this winter as part of their re-made starting rotation that also included the additions of Montas and Clay Holmes. They also got ace Kodai Senga back after he missed all but one start of the 2024 season due to injury.

Canning has been a strong addition for the Mets, entering Thursday's game with a 3.91 ERA in 15 starts.

He may not have All-Star numbers, but he has been a rock-solid middle-of-the-rotation starter that has given the Mets a chance to win on most nights. Losing him for any extended period of time would be significant for their pitching staff.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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