PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — David Peterson’s journey through surgery began like so many others: with a just-in-case MRI.
After dealing with what he thought was routine soreness for most of 2023, Peterson figured he should get it checked out as he readied to leave New York for the offseason. Then the imaging showed a torn labrum in his left hip.
Peterson had surgery in November. He is slated to return “over the summer and maybe toward the earlier part of the summer,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said this week.
“I felt like my body was beat up,” Peterson said Wednesday, prior to the Mets’ first official practice for pitchers and catchers (in which he did not participate). “I decided to see what was going on, to take a look. That’s kind of when I found out everything that was going on.
“[His reaction was] confusion for sure. I just really didn’t think that was coming. But you weigh the options and it was something that I thought I needed to get done sooner rather than later. I feel better than I did before. I’m definitely glad we did it, but obviously a bump in the road.”
Pitching through what turned out to be a major injury, Peterson largely struggled last season, posting a 5.03 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in 27 games (21 starts). He characterized the hip problem as “a factor.”
Now, he is limited to working out and playing catch — which is better than needing crutches to get around, as was the case for his first couple weeks after the operation. He hasn’t returned to the mound yet and said he doesn’t know when that will happen.
The Mets are OK waiting. With their starting five full following the additions of Luis Severino, Sean Manaea and Adrian Houser, Peterson again fits into the next five alongside Tylor Megill, Joey Lucchesi and others. A lot can change by the time he is back, though.
“We anticipate him pitching for us this year, hopefully being an important guy for us down the stretch,” Stearns said.
Peterson said:…
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