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The Mets have shut down right-handed starter Zack Wheeler for the rest of the season, per a team announcement on Thursday morning. Wheeler, 27, has not pitched since July 22 due to a stress reaction in his right humerus bone.
This news is the latest chapter in an injury-ravaged career for Wheeler. He missed two full seasons after having Tommy John surgery in 2015, and he also spent 10 days on the DL earlier this year with biceps tendinitis. Wheeler finishes his 2017 season with a 5.21 ERA and 1.59 WHIP with 81 strikeouts and 40 walks over 86.1 innings.
While the fact that he’s being shut down for the season is obviously a significant setback, it’s likely that he would have been shut down at some point during September anyway since he’s in his first year back from Tommy John and the Mets are out of contention.
Wheeler, who was selected sixth overall by the Giants in the 2009 draft but then dealt to the Mets for Carlos Beltran in 2011, has a 3.90 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in 66 starts over three seasons for the Mets.