New York Mets bullpen pitcher A.J. Minter was placed on the injured list on Sunday with a lat injury. There is a chance that Minter could miss the remainder of the 2025 season, and he may also need surgery to repair the issue.
He signed a two-year $22 million deal in the offseason to help bolster the Mets bullpen. Before his injury, he was making an impact in the bullpen. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza talked about the impact of his injury moving forward.
New York Mets Manager Carlos Mendoza Provides Alarming Update On A.J. Minter
Mendoza spoke to reporters before Tuesday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks and provided an update on Minter’s injury status. He mentioned to Anthony DiCiomo of MLB.com that it is possible Minter will need season-ending surgery, but it is not certain yet. Mendoza said, “All we know right now is we’re dealing with a pretty significant injury here.”
Minter suffered the injury on Saturday against the Washington Nationals. Before he was placed on the injured list, Minter pitched in 13 games. He had a 0-0 record and a 1.64 ERA. In 11.0 innings pitched, he gave up six hits and two runs. Minter walked five batters and struck out 14 batters. His WHIP was 1.00.
Before signing with the Mets, he pitched with the Atlanta Braves from 2017 to 2024. He was a very effective bullpen piece for Atlanta, and he was effective to begin the 2025 season with New York before the injury. Minter was one of the reasons why the Mets’ bullpen had a 3.07 ERA entering Tuesday’s matchup against the Diamondbacks.
Mendoza mentioned how losing Minter is a huge loss to this baseball team and 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.”
After Minter was injured, Jose Urena was called up from the minor leagues on Sunday, and then he was demoted back down to the Syracuse Mets (AAA) on Tuesday. With the injury to Minter, there is a great chance that David Stearns will look to trade for a lefty reliever later in the 2025 MLB season.
As for now, Danny Young is the only left-handed relief pitcher in the Mets bullpen. At some point in 2025, the Mets are hoping that Brooks Raley will factor into the equation in the bullpen. He is another left-handed pitcher. Mendoza also added, “He’s throwing bullpens, and he’s going to work down in Florida and continue to throw his bullpens.
So, hopefully in the next couple of weeks, he starts facing batters, and then we’ll go from there. But he’s already throwing bullpens. That’s a good sign.” Raley is currently progressing from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last May.