Baseball never runs out of surprises—trades, upsets, and injuries always keep the drama alive. But for New York Mets fans, the latest news is one they’d rather not hear. Nick Madrigal, who was expected to renew the lost spark in Queens, is once again battling the injury bug. Just when the Mets were hoping to gain some momentum, Madrigal’s ongoing struggles are raising serious concerns. Let’s just say, the fans are really not ready for the latest update. 

Madirgal’s challenges started during Sunday’s spring training game between the Mets and the Washington Nationals. In the third inning, the 27-year-old charged in from shortstop to field a slow grounder hit by Luis Garcia Jr. However, things took an unexpected turn when he made a quick throw to the first, injuring his shoulder. The star player was forced to leave the field and was later replaced by Wyatt Young.

Now, things have taken an even more drastic turn for him. As per the latest reports emerging from the MLB World, Nick Madrigal will likely undergo surgery on his fractured left shoulder and might miss the rest of the season. This comes as a major setback for the entire team who would be relying on their important asset. For the unversed, Madrigal joined forces with the Mets only this off-season as a free agent, after spending 3-long years with the Chicago Cubs. But Nick Madrigal is not the only player who has been facing concerns.

Starling Marte, another key player for the New York Mets, has also faced injury woes recently after witnessing knee soreness during spring training. While he has been determined to hit the field soon, the situation does not seem motivating enough. Team manager Carlos Mendoza had also expressed his concerns over the grappling injury situations within the team, which is only likely to increase amid Madrigal’s latest update. But if you think these are the only fronts where Mets will have to face challenges, hold on. Besides base and outfield, there is one other important aspect that the Mets need to take care of, and it’s pitching.

Mets’ pitching woes likely to increase amid ace’s absence

The Mets managed to bring in a lot of interesting faces that could be the missing piece of their puzzle. However, destiny had other plans, and facing the truth of it is Mets’ star pitcher, Dedniel Nunez. The 28-year-old reliever showed some electric stuff last year, with his composure being the center of attraction. In just 25 appearances, he posted a 2.31 ERA with 48 strikeouts and a 0.91 WHIP. But for now, the Mets will probably not rely on him either. 

Mets Manager Carlos Mendoza clarified that Dedniel Nunez won’t be appearing in the Grapefruit League games “anytime soon.” Now this comes at a time when the team has continued to claim that the player is healthy enough. However, it has been speculated that Mets are being quite cautious about bringing him in. And while the New York Mets still believe that he might be ready for Opening Day, there is no absolute guarantee.  

As the season unfolds, it will be interesting to see how will the team manage to overcome the absence of key players. Will the Mets manage to shine despite the setbacks? Well, that remains to be seen.