New York Mets Place Reliever Brooks Raley on Injured List With Elbow Inflammation

Brooks Raley was off to a hot start in 2024, but the veteran left-hander will hit the injured list and miss at least the new two weeks for the New York Mets.

Mar 31, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Brooks Raley (25) throws off the mound. / Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Mets have placed relief pitcher Brooks Raley on the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation, the team announced Sunday afternoon.

To round out their roster in Raley's absence, the Mets recalled right-handed pitcher Grant Hartwig from Triple-A Syracuse.

Raley last pitched Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, coming off three days rest. He retired the first two batters of the seventh inning, but got pulled after giving up a double to catcher Will Smith.

LHP Brooks Raley has been placed on the 15-Day IL with left elbow inflammation.

RHP Grant Hartwig has been recalled from Triple-A Syracuse.

— New York Mets (@Mets) April 21, 2024

In eight appearances this season, Raley is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA, 0.714 WHIP, 11.6 strikeouts per nine innings and a 0.5 WAR. The 35-year-old southpaw has four holds as one of New York's go-to late-inning options.

Raley made his MLB debut all the way back in 2012, but after two lackluster seasons with the Chicago Cubs, he opted to go overseas and play in Korea from 2015 to 2019. He returned to MLB in 2020 with the Cincinnati Reds, only to get traded to the Houston Astros that summer.

After signing a three-year, $15.25 million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays ahead of the 2022 season, Raley got dealt to the Mets the following winter. Since inking that deal, Raley is 3-4 with a 2.58 ERA, 1.093 WHIP, 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings and a 2.8 WAR.

Now, Raley is sidelined alongside a handful of other notable Mets pitchers. Starters Kodai Senga and Tylor Megill are on the injured list, as is reliever Sean Reid-Foley. Catcher Francisco Alvarez tore a ligament in his thumb on Friday as well.

Raley was dealing with left elbow inflammation in April 2023 as well, but he returned from the injured list in the minimum 15 days. It remains to be seen if he is on track for a similar recovery timeline in April 2024.

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