Johan Santana Could Miss 2013 Season

Feb 15, 2013; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets pitcher Johan Santana throws a pitch during spring training at Legends Field. Mandatory Credit: John Munson/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports /

The New York Mets have been hit with a major blow to their rotation.

It has been announced that Pitcher Johan Santana has a probable re-tear of the shoulder capsule in his pitching arm that will may require surgery to repair, thus ending his 2013 campaign before it begins. Santana had surgery to repair the same injury back in September 2010, and it took over a year for the former All-Star to return to the lineup.

While no surgery has been scheduled yet, Mets GM Sandy Alderson said that a second surgery remains a “strong possibility”.

Santana, 34, is in the final year of a 6-year, $137.5 million contract he signed with the Mets in 2007.

Santana returned from his original surgery last season to see success over the first two months, including pitching the first no-hitter in Mets history. He was shut down for the season in August when he suffered lower back stiffness.

It becomes just another notch in the sad fall for Santana who was once viewed as one of the best pitchers in the game when he first left Minnesota for New York six years ago.

Left-hander Jonathon Niese will start on opening day for the Mets while right-hander Jeremy Hefner will take Santana’s place in the rotation.