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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.”
Minter’s injury, coupled with Danny Young’s Tommy John surgery, leaves the Mets with just one lefty in the pen, Genesis Cabrera.
While the Mets top pitching prospect, Brandon Sproat, has been inconsistent at Triple-A Syracuse this season, the organization’s next-best minor league pitcher got off to a promising start at Triple-A on Friday as Nolan McLean tossed seven scoreless innings in his debut at that level against Jacksonville, striking out seven.
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The 23-year-old, a third-round pick by the Mets in 2023, had a 1.37 ERA in 26 ¹/₃ innings over five starts with Double-A Binghamton before being promoted.
The rotation has thrived, even without several injured starters who are progressing toward a return.
According to Carlos Mendoza, lefty Sean Manaea (oblique) is ready to play catch off a mound and up to 120 feet, while right-hander Frankie Montas is expected to face hitters in live batting practice in about a week for the first time since suffering a lat strain during the spring.
Paul Blackburn is slated to start for Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday and is “progressing well,’’ Mendoza said.
The right-hander — sidelined with right knee inflammation — is being built up to 70-75 pitches before he returns to the rotation.
Dedniel Núñez had another shaky outing in Friday’s 7-2 win over the Cubs.
After allowing three runs without getting an out in his first appearance since returning from the forearm tightness that ended his 2024 season, Núñez walked two batters without completing the eighth inning.
“He’s having a hard time throwing strikes,’’ Mendoza said.
Reed Garrett got Seiya Suzuki on a long flyout to left-center to end the threat.
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.
Ronny Mauricio will have to wait until Saturday to play his first game with Double-A Binghamton after Friday’s game was canceled due to inclement weather. Binghamton is set to play Reading on Saturday.
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