Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns was asked about why there have been so many major arm injuries that have sidelined pitchers of late.
“I wish I had the reason,” Stearns said prior to Tuesday’s game against the Pirates. “I think this is an enormously complex issue, a really important issue [and] one of the more important issues that’s faced our industry in a long time. I’m glad it’s getting the discussion it deserves right now, and I think you probably need to get all the stakeholders [in MLB] talking together on this one to try to figure something out, because it has gotten to a point where it’s concerning for all of us.”
Little did Stearns know the issue would become a significant talking point after the game, as well. Promising Pirates rookie right-hander Jared Jones was pulled from a dominating start at Citi Field after just five innings and 59 pitches, and the Mets rallied for a 3-1 win in the middle game of an encouraging series sweep.
The 22-year-old, who touched 100 mph on the radar gun, had allowed just one baserunner and was seemingly cruising along.
