A.J. Minter's Season Is On Ice Until July, And The Mets Are Calling Up a 3.99 ERA Arm

Alright, M's fans, let's just get this out of the way. The Padres dropped 8 runs on us last night at T-Mobile Park, a tough 8-3 loss to swallow. It stings, no doubt. But while we're processing that, over in the National League, another club just made a big bullpen move that shows just how wild early season injuries can get. The New York Mets are now without lefty A.J. Minter until at least mid-July after he hit the 60-day injured list, forcing them to bring up a new arm to fill the void.

Minter's Long Road Back Just Got Longer

Look, we all know how brutal injuries can be in this league, especially when you're talking about pitching arms. For Minter, this isn't his first rodeo with the IL this season. The dude was already out to start the year with left hip discomfort, which he experienced back in what they call "spring training." On top of that, he's still dealing with a left lat strain. Remember, he had lat surgery in 2025, so this is a recurring nightmare for him and his team.

The Mets had him working his way back, putting in nine minor league rehab outings across three different clubs where he posted a 3.12 ERA. That’s not too shabby, right? You think he’s getting close, but BAM! Now he's on the 60-day injured list to free up a spot on the 40-man roster. When you're talking 60 days in May, you're looking at a July return, minimum. That's a huge chunk of the season gone for a guy who was supposed to be a key piece in their bullpen. You gotta feel for the guy.

Who's Stepping Up and Who's Heading Out

With Minter sidelined for the foreseeable future, the Mets had to make some moves. They selected the contract of right-hander Daniel Duarte. He’s 29 years old, and he’s got 36 career major league relief appearances under his belt. His ERA from 2022-24 with the Cincinnati Reds and Minnesota Twins sits at 3.99. He’s been putting in work down at Triple-A Syracuse, where he was 0-1 with a 2.60 ERA in 12 appearances, four of those as starts. He even squeezed in two appearances for Mexico at the World Baseball Classic earlier this year. So, he’s been active, but now he’s got a big league call-up.

To make room for Duarte, right-hander Joey Gerber, also 29, got optioned down to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday. Gerber actually pitched two scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers back on April 13, his only big league appearance this season. He got recalled just last Friday, but he didn't even get to touch the mound over the weekend series against the New York Yankees before getting sent back down. Talk about a whirlwind week for that guy!

So, while the M's work to shake off that tough Padres loss and figure out our own early-season rhythm, it's a stark reminder that staying healthy is half the battle in this marathon. We've got a long season ahead, and every team is dealing with these kinds of challenges. Let's keep our Emerald City spirit high and look forward to the next game. Go M's!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.