Bryce Montes de Oca, initially set to begin the season on the injured list due to an elbow stress reaction, is now scheduled for surgery to remove bone chips from the same elbow, according to Tuesday’s report.
This updated prognosis means he will likely be out for about four months. The 26-year-old reliever pitched 2 1/3 innings in spring training, allowing three runs despite not giving up any hits, alongside five walks and four strikeouts.
A product of Missouri, Montes de Oca made his MLB debut at the end of last season. He played in three games, giving up four runs over 3 1/3 innings. With a powerful arm, he averaged close to 100 MPH on his sinker and mid-90s with his cutter during that brief period. His potent arsenal led to an impressive 36.4% strikeout rate over 34 innings at Triple-A Syracuse. Despite control issues, he posted a respectable 3.44 ERA at the highest minor league level.
Though not guaranteed a bullpen spot at the start of the season, Montes de Oca was considered for middle relief depth throughout the year. Now, any potential contributions will have to wait until late in the season. The Mets can move him to the 60-day injured list if they need to open a spot on the 40-man roster.
Montes de Oca has a history of elbow problems, having undergone Tommy John surgery in high school and another elbow surgery at the University of Missouri.
Selected by the Mets in the ninth round of the 2018 MLB Draft, his path has been hindered by injuries, delaying his major league debut until 2022, where he pitched 3 1/3 innings and surrendered four earned runs.