5 recent NY Mets spring training injuries that derailed a player’s season

3) Jose Quintana

It’s almost easy to forget about the 2023 version of Jose Quintana who showed up to the ballpark. That’s because by the time he stepped onto the mound, the Mets were cooked. We think of him more now for the 2024 model. Unwatchable at times yet unhittable for longer stretches late in the year, poor run support ultimately defined his 13-start season in 2023.

The Mets were without Quintana until July 20. He began his year with a record of 0-4 in 5 starts. Back-to-back shutouts against the Mets in starts four and five were to blame for all of the losses. Quintana had a 3.03 ERA after 5 appearances, putting much of the blame on a post-trade deadline Mets team that waved the white flag.

Quintana was pitching for nothing more than team and personal pride in 2023. Impressive at times, even tossing 6 shutout frames at the end of August against the eventual World Series-winning Texas Rangers, his absence was felt early on.

How much differently could the 2023 Mets season have gone if they had a healthy Verlander from the start and Carrasco for the first several months? A few more wins and maybe they hold steady at the trade deadline and even add a piece or two. Instead it was a stress fracture in his left rib that pushed him to the IL for half the year.