Report: Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler also has torn tendon in elbow

Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler reportedly also has a torn tendon in right elbow

New York Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler has a torn tendon in his right elbow to go along with the torn ulnar collateral ligament that was diagnosed this week, reports Newsday’s Marc Carig.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson acknowledged this week that Wheeler had a platelet-rich plasma injection in November and another MRI in January to determine if there was any damage in the elbow.

According to the report, Wheeler was cleared to pitch despite dealing with pain because of an inflamed tendon. Wheeler’s torn UCL likely ends his 2015 season as the team will decide if he will undergo Tommy John surgery.

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The 24-year-old Wheeler went 11-11 with a 3.54 ERA and 187 strikeouts in 185.1 innings last season for New York.

Alderson defended the way the organization handled Wheeler’s work load.

“I understand people can debate the number of pitches, the number of innings and this and that, but we simply wouldn't treat two guys that differently,” he said to the Associated Press. “The other thing is, when a guy is being managed and you understand what the sort of apocalyptic result could be, he blows something out, the question is what's the alternative? If it blows out, it blows out.”

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