PHILADELPHIA — Mets officials were concerned enough about a blister on top pitching prospect Zack Wheeler’s middle finger that they recently sent him for an MRI exam on the affected area, a club source told The Post yesterday.
Assistant general manager John Ricco said he was unaware of the MRI exam, but confirmed Wheeler was bothered by a blister during his first two starts for Triple-A Las Vegas. Ricco said the blister, located under the nail on Wheeler’s right middle finger, burst during the right-hander’s appearance on Tuesday at Fresno.
Wheeler has dealt with a similar blister problem throughout his minor league career, last year missing a start for Double-A Binghamton because of it. The blister’s reemergence might explain Wheeler’s unspectacular start to the season: He is 0-1 with a 3.12 ERA in two starts with 11 hits allowed in 8 2/3 innings with six walks and nine strikeouts.
In his start against Fresno, Wheeler pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed four runs, three of which were unearned, on eight hits and three walks.
The source indicated Wheeler underwent the MRI exam on his finger in San Francisco, between his first two starts. The source said the blister prevented Wheeler from throwing his slider because of the pain it inflicted.
Wheeler is expected to take his next turn in the rotation for Las Vegas, and Mets officials are hopeful the blister won’t reappear.