The Mets received some rare good news Thursday, when Johan Santana was diagnosed with fatigue of his left shoulder after being examined at the Hospital for Special Surgery.
Santana was brought up from Port St. Lucie, where he is rehabbing his surgically repaired shoulder, because he complained of “discomfort” earlier this week following his first rehab start last Thursday.
Other than fatigue, Santana’s shoulder exam was “otherwise normal,” according to the Mets.
Santana will spend the next week with the team, which continues its 10-game homestand Friday against the Braves at Citi Field. He won’t throw again until his shoulder is at full strength.
The lefty had hoped to return by July, but GM Sandy Alderson has tempered expectations and said repeatedly that he doesn’t expect Santana to pitch meaningful innings in a pennant race this season.
Since it is becoming increasingly apparent that no one on the Mets figures to pitch meaningful innings in a pennant race this season, there is no need to rush Santana back.
Still, Alderson has said he believes a window remains open for Santana to pitch for the Mets next month and that would be beneficial for him going into next season.
Chien-Ming Wang had the same surgery to fix a torn capsule in his shoulder and it took the former Yankee two years to get back to the majors.
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Ike Davis is expected back from Arizona by the weekend for another evaluation of his ankle, which has sidelined him since May. The first baseman has been on a running program in hopes of avoiding season-ending surgery, which would likely be scheduled if he doesn’t show any improvement when he returns to New York.