Montas’ Season Cut Short with Serious Elbow Injury

Frankie Montas’ first year with the Mets has come to an abrupt end, and his future with the team is uncertain. Coach Carlos Mendoza announced that Montas has been diagnosed with a “pretty serious” injury to the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, leading to his placement on the injured list just before the Mets faced Tristo Park.

The right-hander experienced discomfort in his lower biceps after a bullpen session on Friday, a day after the Mets played in Washington. An MRI revealed damage to his UCL.

Mendoza indicated that Montas may need Tommy John surgery, which could greatly impact his career moving forward.

Montas had signed a two-year deal worth $34 million last winter, with an opt-out clause. However, given the disappointing season where he found himself in the bullpen after initial struggles, it’s likely he will choose to stay with the team next year.

To fill Montas’ spot on the roster, Huascar Brazobán was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse.

This season, Montas, who is 32, had a 6.28 ERA across nine appearances, two of which were in relief roles. He began the season on the injured list due to a high-grade lat strain he suffered during spring training.

Mendoza shared that Montas was clearly devastated upon learning about the severity of his injury, noting that he had put in significant effort to rehabilitate but did not see the desired results.

Brazobán has spent most of the season with the Mets, although he was sent back down to Triple-A last month.

As for Brazobán, he has pitched to a 3.83 ERA in his 44 appearances this season, and Mendoza sees him as a valuable long-relief option from the bullpen.