Devastating news in from the New York Mets late Monday afternoon: Bisons pitcher Jenrry Mejia, the 21-year-old Dominican who is universally acclaimed as the big club's top prospect, has a complete tear of the medial collateral ligament in his right elbow and appears headed for season-ending Tommy John surgery.
Mejia was examined today by Mets Medical Director Dr. David Altchek and underwent an MRI at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. Surgery was recommended but he will seek a second opinion before making his decision.
Mejia left his start with the Bisons Friday in Rochester after four innings with discomfort in the elbow and flew to New York for examination, where the tear was found. In five starts for the Bisons, Mejia was 1-2 with a 2.86 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 28.1 innings.
Mejia appeared in 33 games for the Mets last year (30 in relief), and posted an 0-4 record with a 4.62 ERA. He finished the year in the minor leagues, including one start in Buffalo, and was set to be a seasonlong starter for the Herd.
If he has the surgery, Mejia will become the second Buffalo starter down for the season with the ligament transplant surgery. Veteran Boof Bonser suffered a similar injury in his lone start April 9 at Coca-Cola Field against Pawtucket and had surgery the following week. In addition, Opening Day starter Dillon Gee is in New York pitching out of the bullpen.
The Bisons play again tonight at Lehigh Valley.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
