A.J. Minter's Lat and Hip Pain Land Him on the 60-Day IL, and Nobody's Talking About What It Means For The Mets
Alright, sports fans, you gotta know what's shaking across the league. The Mets bullpen just dropped some serious news that demands our attention! Right-hander Daniel Duarte is officially joining the big league squad. But the headline grabber? Left-hander A.J. Minter, a guy who's been battling, just got moved to the 60-day injured list. You heard that right. This isn't a minor roster swap, folks, this is a major gut punch for their early season plans, and honestly, we should be digging into what Minter’s extended absence truly means for their season.
Minter's Marathon Recovery Hits Another Brutal Snag
Let's get real: Minter has been through the wringer. After undergoing lat surgery in 2025, he then dealt with hip discomfort as the current season geared up, landing him on the injured list right from the start. Now, to clear a spot for Duarte on that critical 40-man roster, Minter has been officially moved to the 60-day IL. He's still deep in recovery from that pesky left lat strain AND the nagging left hip discomfort. This isn't a quick comeback. We're talking about a 32-year-old pitcher, who posted a 3.12 ERA across nine minor league rehab outings for three different clubs, still fighting his way back. That kind of persistent struggle? It’s a heavy shadow hanging over the Mets’ bullpen strategy early in the year.
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So, with Minter sidelined for the long haul, who are the Mets turning to? Enter Daniel Duarte, the 29-year-old right-hander. He's got 36 career major league relief appearances, with a 3.99 ERA between 2022 and 2024 with the Cincinnati Reds and Minnesota Twins. But here’s the deal: he was lights out down in Triple-A Syracuse more recently, where he put up a tidy 2.60 ERA over 12 appearances, even making four starts. Plus, he even pitched two appearances for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. The Mets are banking on this dude to bring much-needed stability. To make room for Duarte's contract, they optioned right-hander Joey Gerber back to Triple-A Syracuse. Gerber, also 29, only saw one major league appearance this season, throwing two scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 13. He got recalled just this past Friday but didn't even get to pitch over the weekend series against the New York Yankees before getting sent back down. Brutal!
Look, early season bullpen stability is everything for any club. With Minter's recovery dragging on, this isn't just a bump; it's a huge test for the Mets' depth. Every single pitch from Duarte and the rest of that bullpen is going to matter. Keep your eyes peeled, because how they handle Minter's significant absence, and how Duarte performs in this crucial role, could totally dictate the Mets' season vibe. Go baseball!
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.