Bryce Montes de Oca, Photo by Rick Nelson
As reported by MMN‘s own Michael Mayer and the New York Mets, doctors performed Tommy John surgery on reliever Bryce Montes de Oca. As previously reported, Montes de Oca was undergoing surgery to remove bone fragments from his right elbow.
During the course of the surgery, it was determined Montes de Oca’s UCL was “insufficient,” and as a result, this surgery was needed. This is the second time Montes de Oca was undergone Tommy John surgery with him first having the surgery back in 2013. Back then, Montes de Oca was a 16 year old high school pitcher.
The timetable for Montes de Oca’s return has certainly changed dramatically since he left the March 13 spring training game. Initially, Montes de Oca was diagnosed with a forearm strain and was going to be shut down for 3-4 weeks. When surgery to remove the bone fragments was recommended, he was going to be shelved until August. Now, it is all but certain Montes de Oca is out for the season.
Montes de Oca joins Mets prospect Matt Allan in having a second UCL surgery. In January, Allan had UCL revision surgery. That was after undergoing his first Tommy John in May 2021 and ulnar nerve transposition surgery in January 2021.
Montes de Oca is the second Mets prospect to undergo Tommy John surgery this year. In February, Josh Hejka underwent the surgery.
Current Major League pitchers Nathan Eovaldi, Daniel Hudson, and Jameson Taillon are examples of ptichers who have had two Tommy John surgeries and continued to have a good career. Current White Sox pitcher Mike Clevinger struggled with the San Diego Padres last season as he made his return after his second Tommy John.
In terms of the Mets, current pitching coach Jeremy Hefner underwent two Tommy John surgeries, and he was unable to make it back to the majors. Former Met Chris Capuano had surgeries in 2006 and 2008. His first full season back in the majors was in 2011 when he had a strong year for the Mets.
Dr. Dr. Andrew Cosgarea, an orthopedic surgeon and professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, explained back in 2020 that a second UCL surgery isn’t as successful as the first surgery. (Kevin Acee, San Diego Tribune). The reason is “The first time you drill a hole in the bone it is fresh and clean, but if it happens again you already have a hole there and that hole is filled with scar tissue. … Scar tissue isn’t as healthy as original tissue. It doesn’t have the same blood supply; (it is) not as durable.”
As of the moment, the Mets have not made any announcements pertaining to Montes de Oca’s surgery. The team has the option to put him on the 60 day IL thereby opening up a 40 man roster spot, but that would also use a full season of service time for him. Odds are he will be assigned to the minors and put on the IL.
