Jeremy Hefner is most likely going to undergo Tommy John surgery despite seeking a second opinion.
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For Jeremy Hefner, the decision to get a second opinion on his damaged right elbow is not so much postponing the inevitable as it is getting a complete understanding of all of his options.
But he seems resigned to the fact he will have to undergo surgery.
“It is torn and could completely tear at any minute,” Hefner said Wednesday morning. “It’s looking like [surgery] but I want to make sure to cover all my bases.”
Manager Terry Collins announced Tuesday that team doctors recommended Tommy John surgery for Hefner, but added the right-hander was seeking a second opinion. Hefner said yesterday he has a consultation scheduled for Monday with Dr. James Andrews.
According to Hefner, he was told by doctors he has a partial tear in the ligament and loose bone spurs. Should he opt for surgery, both the removal of the bone spurs and the Tommy John surgery would be done at the same time. It would be the first surgery ever for Hefner.
“I have some good friends that have had it,” Hefner said of the Tommy John surgery. “Some have come back really quick— nine months, 10 months, 11 months. Some guys took 14, 15 months. So hopefully I’m not in that category because it wipes me out for next year. So hopefully 10, 11 months I can come back. It’s all about how your arm rebounds. I look at it as another challenge in my career. Hopefully I can come back stronger.”
d’Arnaud on the call
When the Mets acquired Travis d’Arnaud in December from the Blue Jays in the R.A. Dickey trade, they were certain they had landed the successor to Mike Piazza and Gary Carter as an offensive force behind the plate.
What they are learning is that the 24-year-old can call a game, as well.
“He works really hard at his game preparation,” Collins said during his pregame press conference yesterday. “Just as an example, I think the first game he caught, [pitching coach] Dan [Warthen] went through the pregame stuff with him and [the Padres] made a lineup change. So we switched the lineup and Dan said, ‘OK, let’s go back over the lineup,’ and Travis gave him exactly what they had talked about.
“He’s got a real good mind in what he wants to do. Obviously the more he gets to know the pitchers, the more he’ll know their strengths. But he works at it. He works hard at it. We’ve been very impressed.”
Torres still on track
Carlos Torres is still scheduled to start Friday night’s series opener against the Tigers, even though he faced one batter in Tuesday night’s 5-3 win over the Braves.
“Carlos Torres, when he first came here, he pitched out of the bullpen and he pitched great. But he got here because of what he had done in Triple-A as a starting pitcher,” Collins said.
Matt Harvey (9-4, 2.25 ERA) and Max Scherzer (18-1, 2.82 ERA) are Saturday’s starters. Dillon Gee (9-8, 3.60 ERA) and Rick Porcello (9-7, 4.52 ERA) are the probables for Sunday’s series finale.
Follow Mets beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
