New York Mets right handed reliever Bobby Parnell, is hoping to avoid season ending surgery, according to ESPN New York.
Parnell is currently dealing with a herniated disk in his neck, which is pushing on a nerve, causing discomfort down his arm. He received an epidural on Monday and is prepared to have another injection in about a week.
"“It’s pushing on a nerve. So we’ve got to get the inflammation out of there and take it one day at a time, see how it goes. It’s just holding a pattern right now. We’ll see what happens. If it works the first time, that’s great. I think you can have up to two epidurals. I’m going to try that until i can’t anymore. If it doesn’t work, then surgery is an option. If I do have the surgery, they said I’ll be ready for spring training next year. It’s just a waiting game right now.” Parnell told ESPN"
If it doesn’t show an improvement, the reliever could have surgery which would sideline him for the rest of the season.
"“I don’t want the season to end like this. I want to get back. But I’ve got to be smart about it, too. If I go out there and re-injure it right quick, it’s going to set me back even farther, we’ll see how the first shot goes and go from there.” Parnell said before the first epidural"
Mets manager Terry Collins plans to go with a closer-by-committee during Parnell’s absence, even though LaTroy Hawkins got the save last night against the Colorado Rockies.
We should hear more about Parnell later this week.