ATLANTA — Dellin Betances’ comeback from a right shoulder impingement officially ended Wednesday, when the Mets announced the right-handed reliever will undergo season-ending surgery.
Manager Luis Rojas didn’t have an exact diagnosis, but said Betances will undergo shoulder surgery. The 33-year-old reliever had completed a rehab stint at Single-A St. Lucie and was set for a transfer to Triple-A Syracuse. He appeared in only one regular-season game this year for the Mets before hitting the injured list on April 8.
It’s the latest physical setback for Betances, who spent most of the final month of last year’s 60-game season on the IL with a right lat strain. The previous year, Betances appeared in just one game for the Yankees because of a lat injury that preceded a torn Achilles.
In need of bullpen help after the 2019 season, the Mets signed Betances to a one-year contract worth $10.5 million that contained a player option for this season.
Betances, who was selected to four straight All-Star teams with the Yankees beginning in 2014, pitched to a 7.71 ERA in 15 appearances for the Mets last season as he struggled to cope with a dip in velocity that placed his fastball in the 90-91 mph range. Betances reported to spring training this year still in search of his fastball.
“[Betances] is always a good presence for your bullpen,” Rojas said. “From an experience standpoint and pitching in New York and all the stuff he can have, it’s an asset.”
Jeurys Familia, who pitched an inning for Syracuse in a rehab appearance Tuesday, is expected to rejoin the Mets this weekend for their series against the Yankees, according to Rojas.
The right-hander was placed on the injured list on June 21 with a right hip impingement.
The Mets also could “potentially” have Brandon Nimmo back for the Subway Series. Nimmo continues to receive at-bats for Syracuse to regain his timing after nearly two months on the IL.
J.D. Davis’s first rehab game with Syracuse was postponed because of weather on Wednesday.
Dominic Smith was absent from the starting lineup to keep him fresh for the Mets’ upcoming stretch of games, according to Rojas. Billy McKinney started in left field after playing right on Monday to give Michael Conforto a breather in Washington. Jeff McNeil was also on the bench for a rest, giving Jose Peraza the start at second base.