Peterson to undergo surgery on right foot

NEW YORK -- When David Peterson sustained a right oblique strain earlier this month, the Mets knew he would be sidelined for several weeks. They could not have predicted what would come next.

Just as he was recovering from the oblique strain, Peterson injured his right foot while walking through the clubhouse on Friday evening, sustaining a Jones fracture of the fifth metatarsal that will require surgery. The Mets won’t have a timetable for Peterson’s return until after the operation, but it’s possible he has thrown his final pitch this season.

“I don’t know,” Mets manager Luis Rojas said. “I can’t give you an answer there.”

Rojas was unaware of the incident until after Friday’s 3-0 win over the Blue Jays, when he walked through the Mets’ postgame celebration and noticed Peterson sitting with a boot on his foot. The left-hander had been walking in the clubhouse earlier in the night when he felt a “pop” in his foot, according to Rojas.

“He didn’t step on anything,” Rojas said. “He was just walking, and he felt a pop. That’s it. He was very frustrated. He didn’t understand how this could happen.”

A team doctor immediately administered X-rays, which revealed the Jones fracture. According to the Hospital for Special Surgery’s official site, such injuries typically require six to eight weeks for recovery. Combined with the necessary post-surgery throwing program, that could easily cost Peterson the rest of the season.

If so, the Mets will need to proceed without one of their Opening Day rotation members. Peterson was an integral part of the 2020 team, debuting last summer and going 6-2 with a 3.44 ERA in 10 games (nine starts). The former first-round Draft pick struggled this year, however, going 2-6 with a 5.54 ERA in 15 starts before the oblique injury.

By the time Peterson is ready to return, the Mets’ rotation may look significantly different, with Jacob deGrom, Carlos Carrasco and Noah Syndergaard all due back from injury later this year. But Peterson remains a significant part of the Mets’ long-term plans one way or the other, either as an option down the stretch or for the 2022 rotation.

Jake in limbo
deGrom continued a throwing progression on Saturday, but the two-time National League Cy Young Award winner has yet to advance to mound work as he recovers from a bout of right forearm tightness. Given that it’s been more than two weeks since deGrom last stepped on a mound, there’s a strong chance he will require a Minor League rehab assignment before returning to the Mets.

Carrasco, meanwhile, will make a third start for Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday in Buffalo. The Mets had considered bringing him to New York to make his next start at the big league level, but they opted instead to let him stretch out in the Minors after he allowed five runs in his last rehab outing. Carrasco has yet to pitch this season due to a torn right hamstring.

Rather than Carrasco, new acquisition Rich Hill will make his Mets debut on Sunday against the Blue Jays. Marcus Stroman will pitch one of the Mets’ seven-inning doubleheader games on Monday against the Braves, with the other still to be determined.

Roster moves galore
To clear space for Hill on the active roster, the Mets optioned right-hander Nick Tropeano to Triple-A Syracuse. Despite having several stints in the Majors this season, Tropeano has appeared in only one game.

The Mets also placed reliever Stephen Nogosek on the 10-day injured list due to right shoulder inflammation and recalled infielder Brandon Drury to take his roster spot. Nogosek complained of soreness following his longest outing of the season, a 48-pitch effort this past Tuesday in Cincinnati.

From the trainer’s room
Second baseman Jeff McNeil was out of the Mets’ lineup for a second straight night on Saturday due to what he called left leg muscle fatigue, but he expected to be available off the bench. The Mets do not consider McNeil an injured list candidate.

Draft matters
The Mets have now signed 19 of their 20 Draft picks. The lone exception is first-rounder Kumar Rocker, who agreed to a $6 million deal but has yet to officially sign it. Rocker was on site at Citi Field this week for his physical, according to multiple sources, but the Mets still have another week before the Aug. 1 deadline to complete his contract.

If Rocker receives his full $6 million, the Mets will pay a small financial penalty for an overage on their allotted Draft pool.