Bobby Parnell isn’t going to wait around and hope for the best.
The Mets closer, who last week was diagnosed with a partially torn medial collateral ligament in his right elbow, has opted for Tommy John surgery, the team announced Sunday night.
Parnell previously indicated he was willing to try a non-surgical approach to rehab that would have involved a throwing program, but after consulting with family and wanting to minimize potential lost time next season, decided for the surgery, according to a club source.
The right-hander is scheduled to undergo surgery performed by Dr. David Altchek at the Hospital for Special Surgery on Tuesday and would join Matt Harvey and Jeremy Hefner among the Mets pitchers recovering from Tommy John. Typical recovery time from the surgery is 10-14 months.
“I want to make sure if I do have surgery I give myself the best bet to get back for next year and have the recovery time,” Parnell said last week.
If Parnell had elected for the throwing program and it was successful, he might have been in position for a late-May return.
Parnell missed the final two months of last season with a herniated disk in his neck that led to surgery. After a spring training in which his velocity sagged, Parnell suffered a blown save in the ninth inning last Monday in the Mets’ 9-7 loss to the Nationals on Opening Day.
Following that performance, Parnell told team medical personnel he had been bothered by soreness in his right forearm for several days. A subsequent MRI exam revealed a partial tear to the MCL.
Jose Valverde has assumed the closer’s role in Parnell’s absence, but even if the veteran right-hander is a suitable replacement, there are still major questions about the team’s bullpen depth.
General manager Sandy Alderson has indicated the Mets are more likely to look in-house for options before potentially diving into a free-agent market that includes the likes of Joel Hanrahan, Kevin Gregg and Ryan Madson.
Rafael Montero and Jacob deGrom, both of whom are off to strong starts at Triple-A Las Vegas, would be two such options. And the Mets still have a high regard for Vic Black, despite the right-hander’s control problems in spring training that led to his demotion to Las Vegas.
The team remains hesitant to move Jenrry Mejia back into a relief role, but with Daisuke Matsuzaka waiting in Las Vegas, Mejia could eventually be considered for bullpen duty.
For now, the Mets are going with a bullpen that includes Valverde, Kyle Farnsworth, Gonzalez Germen, Jeurys Familia, Carlos Torres, Scott Rice and John Lannan.
The 36-year-old Valverde pitched a scoreless inning for the Mets on Sunday in their 2-1 loss to the Reds at Citi Field and has not allowed a run in three appearances this season. Valverde converted his first save opportunity on Friday.
Overall, the Mets bullpen worked eight innings in three games against the Reds and allowed only two runs after a hellacious stretch against the Nationals. The torment included Opening Day, when Mets relievers surrendered five runs in 3 ¹/₃ innings.
“We’ve always felt all along that our bullpen was better than they started out,” manager Terry Collins said after watching Germen, Farnsworth and Valverde combine for 3 ¹/₃ shutout innings Sunday.
Parnell, who is making $3.7 million this season, went 5-5 with a 2.16 ERA and 22 saves in 2013.
It will be Lucas Duda at first base for Tuesday’s game in Atlanta, but then what?
“If I had the whole lineup for the rest of the year, I would give it to you,” manager Terry Collins said after the Mets’ 2-1 loss to the Reds on Sunday. “But Duda is going to play Tuesday.”
With a resurgent Ike Davis on the loose and the Mets in desperate need of offense, Duda might need to make a dent at Turner Field to remain in the lineup.
Davis went 2-for-4 on Sunday, a day after connecting for a pinch-hit, game-ending grand slam. Duda was named the starter on Friday, with the proviso that Davis would be in Sunday’s lineup to get at-bats.
Duda had a pinch-hitting appearance and was retired leading off the eighth. Davis doubled leading off the second and scored on Juan Lagares’ single. He also singled leading off the seventh.
“Good games are sometimes lost in losses, as they should be because it doesn’t really matter,” said Davis, who is 4-for-8 (.500) to start the year.
Duda hit two home runs against the Reds on Friday, but is batting only .143.
Harvey is headed to Port St. Lucie, Fla., on Monday to continue his rehab from Tommy John surgery. Under his agreement with the club, Harvey can rehab in New York when the Mets are home, but will work out in Port St. Lucie during road trips.
The right-hander said it was a good bonding experience to begin the year at Citi Field with the team.
“That’s what I want,” Harvey said. “I wanted to experience that stuff and not be away from it all year. I feel strongly about coming back this year and I don’t think that’s going to change and being a part of that stuff early with those guys, I definitely was excited about all that and looking forward to getting back.”
Daniel Murphy went 0-for-4 to snap a 14-game hitting streak that dated to Sept. 19 of last season.