Dillon Gee Opts for Additional Surgery, On Shelf At Least 6-8 Weeks

In what was feared to be worse than initially thought, Dillon Gee’s shoulder blood clot will require additional surgery, keeping him sidelined for at least 6-8 weeks. This all but ends Gee’s season, and leads the Mets to seriously consider bringing up one of their top prospects, Matt Harvey, who has pitched very well for Triple-A Buffalo recently.

Placed on the disabled list from the off-set, doctors initially dissolved the blood clot but then determined there was damage to the artery, leading them to recommend either blood thinners (the riskier option) or more surgery. Gee has chosen the latter, and will head to St. Louis where Dr. Robert Thompson at Barnes-Jewish Hospital will fix the damaged artery in his throwing shoulder.

Gee should resume throwing in 6-8 weeks, and theoretically would be able to pitch for the Mets if they were playing baseball in October. The main goal, however, will be to get Gee 100% healthy for the 2013 season.

Dillon was pitching much better of late, lowering his season ERA to a 4.10. He is 6-7 in 17 starts this year, with 97 K’s compared to 29 walks. Gee is the 2^nd Mets starter this year to require surgery after an 8-inning, 1-run performance. Mike Pelfrey required season-ending Tommy John surgery after an 8-inning, 1-run performance against the Giants on April 21.

Gee was supposed to open the 2^nd half against the Braves on Friday to give Johan Santana a few extra days to heal his sore ankle, but Chris Young will now make that start. Miguel Batista was initially given Gee’s rotation spot when it was thought there was a possibility Dillon would only miss a couple starts. When asked about Matt Harvey possibly getting the Big League call, Terry Collins said that he didn’t want to put Harvey in a position to fail. Now that Gee is out indefinitely, though, the Mets are seriously considering bringing him up to The Show. According to Andy McCullough of the Star Ledger, however, the Mets don’t yet believe Harvey is ready to thrive in the Majors. They believe he can survive, but as a potential mainstay in the rotation, they want him to thrive, which is why they are torn on whether to call him up.

In 18 Buffalo starts this season, Harvey is 7-4 with a 3.39 ERA in 98.1 innings, with 102 K’s and 42 walks.

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