The New York Mets have shut down ace Johan Santana after it was discovered he has lower back inflammation. (Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-US PRESSWIRE)
Johan Santana may have pitched the first no-hitter in New York Mets history, but he won’t be finishing the 2012 season as the Mets have announced they will shut down their ace due to lower back inflammation.
It’s been a rough stint thus far for Santana since coming to New York. He missed all of the 2011 season and was placed on the 15-day DL this year with a sprained right ankle back in July. It’s also been a rough go for the lefty since he threw his no-hitter back on June 1, going just 3-7 with an 8.27 ERA in 10 starts.
Worse yet, Santana is 0-5 in his last five games with an outrageous 15.63 ERA.
“I’m very confident he’ll be back next season ready to go, hopefully in a stronger position coming into this season,” Mets GM SandyAlderson said. “If you look back at this season and what we reasonably could’ve expected at the beginning of the year, he’s accomplished quite a lot.”
New York will place Santana on the 15-day DL retroactive to August 18 but the belief is that he’s done for the 2012 season.
“I don’t believe it’s a disc;, t’s inflammation in the area of (vertabra) L5,” Alderson said, adding there’s no concern with Santana’s shoulder or ankle. “That inflammation has led to some soreness, but again, I think the important thing is, that the doctors have not recommended surgery.”
The Mets have called up Collin McHugh to take Santana’s place in the rotation. McHugh is 2-4 at Triple-A Buffalo with a 3.39 ERA in 12 starts.
