Matt Harvey Could Need Tommy John Surgery

In the worst possible news for the Mets, Matt Harvey has a partial ligament tear in his elbow and could require Tommy John surgery. If that is the case, Harvey would likely miss all of the 2014 season.

Harvey complained of forearm discomfort following his start on Saturday. Doctors at the Hospital for Special Services found the partial tear in his ulnar collateral ligament on Monday.

Sandy Alderson said Harvey is likely done for the season, and a decision on whether surgery is necessary will come in two to three weeks until the swelling in his elbow goes down and doctors can get a better look at what is going on in there.

Matt Harvey is obviously hopeful that he won’t need surgery, saying, “I’m going to do everything I can so I don’t have to get surgery.”

However Alderson pointed out that alternative treatments for elbow tears usually do not work and that surgery might be inevitable.

“It’s unfortunate from Matt’s point of view and it’s unfortunate from the standpoint of the organization,” Alderson said according to ESPNNewYork.com. “There’s no question about that. On the other hand, these are the kind of things that happen in the game. The successful teams, the successful organizations, respond to these setbacks. That’s exactly what we have to do. This is not a career-ending injury under any stretch of the imagination.

“This news was tough today. There’s no question about that. And the full implication of it probably has not yet been felt. But we have to respond. And we will.”

Despite Alderson’s usual understatement, this is devastating news for the Mets. The team was hoping to be at least competitive next season, but without its ace at the front of the rotation, that will be virtually impossible. Why does it always seem that when the Mets are ready to take that next step, they are dealt a lethal blow? It never ends.