According to USA Today Sports, New York Mets pitcher Johan Santana, has re-injured the same shoulder he had surgically repaired a few years ago and is in danger of missing the entire season.
An MRI on Mets pitcher Johan Santana’s surgically repaired left shoulder capsule showed a re-tear, general manager Sandy Alderson announced on a conference call with reporters Thursday.
Santana flew to New York to receive the MRI and meet with team doctor David Altchek. By request of Santana’s agent, Altchek consulted with baseball-injury experts James Andrews and Lewis Yocum, who confirmed the diagnosis. Alderson called surgery “a strong possibility” for the left-hander.
Santana’s prior surgery sidelined him for the entire 2011 season, so if he goes through with surgery, it’s unlikely he’ll ever pitch for the Mets again. Santana agreed to a six-year, $137.5 million contract with the Mets upon his trade to the team in early 2008.
Apparently, Santana came into spring training and from the onset was suffering from lack of velocity on his pitches. The team had planned to put the former Cy Young award winner on the disabled list to start the season after both parties insisted that his shoulder was fine.
Santana pitched well for a short period in June after making his way back from the surgery. He had the Mets first no-hitter in a game against the St. Louis Cardinals, but struggled in July and August before being shutdown with a back injury.