MLB

Mets’ Young has tear; surgery for Mejia

Mets pitcher Chris Young was diagnosed with a tear of the anterior capsule in his shoulder, essentially the same injury that has kept Johan Santana sidelined since last September.

Assistant general manager John Ricco, speaking before the Mets faced the Rockies, classified Young’s injury as a “retear,” saying the right-hander sustained the same injury last year pitching for the Padres.

Young must decide between season-ending surgery and rehab. The latter option would perhaps give Young a chance of returning later in the season.

“I’m not going to speculate yet,” Ricco said when asked about Young’s prospects for this season.

Young went the rehab route last season after tearing his anterior capsule in April and returned to pitch three September games for the Padres in the heat of a pennant race.

The Mets signed Young to an incentive-laden contract last winter ($1.1 million was guaranteed) well aware of the risk involved. Young also had shoulder problems in 2009 that led to arthroscopic surgery.

Young, who is 1-0 with a 1.88 ERA in four starts this season, was scratched from his Saturday start against the Dodgers when he couldn’t get loose before the game. Young was on the disabled list last month with what was called biceps tendinitis.

“You just hope this guy somehow gets better,” Terry Collins said. “He showed no signs of this in spring training. You would watch him throw his [bullpens] and when he started getting through spring training and building up his pitch count, you never saw any discomfort.

“You never saw any holding back from trying to pitch. And you thought ‘OK, he’s over this.’ It just tells you what the extra adrenaline when the season starts means, what the cold weather can mean. They were all major factors in the fact he’s in the shape he’s in right now.”

Collins said he doubts team decision makers could have done something differently to prevent Young’s injury.

Dillon Gee, who took Young’s spot Saturday, will remain in the rotation.

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Prospect Jenrry Mejia is headed for Tommy John surgery after a second opinion.

Mejia tore the medial collateral ligament in his right elbow while pitching for Triple-A Buffalo. He likely will be sidelined 9-12 months.