Mets' Tylor Megill, Reed Garrett could be facing Tommy John surgery
Mets' Tylor Megill pitches during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Citi Field on June 14. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Both Mets pitchers were nearly untouchable for the first month of the season, both suffered abysmal declines toward the middle of the year, and now, at least one may be lost for 2026.
Tylor Megill, who’s been battling an elbow sprain since min-June, and Reed Garrett, who hit the injured list with an elbow sprain twice in the last month, both might need Tommy John surgery, though they’ll be undergoing further examination to be sure.
Megill, who had arm tightness during a rehab outing a week and a half ago, will travel to Los Angeles for an in-person consultation to determine whether he’ll need the surgery, manager Carlos Mendoza said Saturday before the Mets’ game against the Nationals.
Garrett isn’t quite there yet. Mendoza classified the injury as “a ligament strain” but added that the Mets have yet to hear anything more.
“There’s a couple of options that have been recommended,” Mendoza said. “We’re still waiting for a couple of other doctors to review it and give us more information there.”
Megill, who pitched to a 1.09 ERA in his first five starts and to a 5.56 ERA in his last nine, is arbitration-eligible next year and is under team control through 2027. Garrett, who didn’t allow an earned run in his first 13 appearances and carried a 0.68 ERA through his first 27 games, had a 6.92 ERA in his last 28 games. He also is arbitration-eligible and under team control through 2029.
The Mets have been plagued by UCL tears in the last two years, with Brooks Raley, Christian Scott, Drew Smith, Dedniel Nunez, Frankie Montas and Danny Young all undergoing the procedure.
Manaea to pitch
Sean Manaea will come off the paternity list on Sunday and pitch against the Nationals, Mendoza announced Saturday. The start likely will be a reverse of what the Mets successfully accomplished earlier in the week when they used a tandem of Clay Holmes starting, with Manaea closing out the game for five innings.
Manaea looked promising Tuesday. He allowed one run and four hits with no walks and four strikeouts.
Holmes, a former Yankees closer, and Manaea, who served as a bulk man when he was with the Giants, both have significant bullpen experience, meaning the combo could work during any potential playoff run.
“It helps when we’re making these decisions, the fact that they’ve done it in the past,” Mendoza said. “But again, they want to start, right? We consider them starters, but given where we’re at, they’re all on board. They understand. But when it comes down to us making these decisions, they know what it takes to come out of the bullpen. It’s a completely different routine but they’ve done it before.”
Laura Albanese is a reporter, feature writer and columnist covering local professional sports teams; she began at Newsday in 2007 as an intern.
