Giants' Thomas Szapucki: Undergoing surgery Friday
Rotowire
Szapucki is undergoing surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome Friday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Szapucki has been on the 60-day injured list since the start of the season due to what was originally diagnosed as shoulder trouble, and the surgery will all but assuredly put an end to the season. The left-hander will have a chance to compete for a roster spot in 2024 if he's healthy, but the track record of pitchers recovering from thoracic outlet syndrome is spotty at best.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Thomas Szapucki: Beginning year on 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Giants placed Szapucki (arm) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.
Szapucki's move to the 60-day IL opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for catcher Roberto Perez and ensures the 26-year-old lefty will miss at least the first two months of the season. The Giants shut Szapucki down earlier this month after he experienced soreness in in his left arm, and he's since received multiple medical opinions on the injury, including a consultation with a doctor who specializes in thoracic outlet syndrome. The team has yet to provide an estimated timeline for Szapucki to resume pitching while he contends with an injury the Giants are currently terming as "left arm neuropathy."
... See More... See Less
Giants' Thomas Szapucki: Getting second opinion
Rotowire
The Giants announced Monday that Szapucki is seeking a second opinion for his left upper arm injury, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
The initial diagnosis was that Szapucki is dealing with neuropathy, which left his fingers numb during his lone Cactus League appearance back in late February. He remains shut down from throwing as the Giants attempt to get a clearer handle on the situation.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Thomas Szapucki: Dealing with neuropathy
Rotowire
Szapucki is likely to begin the season on the injured list due to neuropathy in his pitching arm, Evan Webeck of the Mercury News reports.
Szapucki couldn't feel the fingers on his left hand during his lone Cactus League appearance back on Feb. 26. He hasn't thrown a ball since and the Giants are still trying to determine the root cause of the issue. It sounds like he'll remain shut down until the team has better idea of how to proceed, so he could be sidelined for a while.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Thomas Szapucki: Headed to injured list
Rotowire
Szapucki was placed on the 15-day injured list with a hip strain Monday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Szapucki dealt with hip tightness in late September but returned to the mound late last week. However, he's apparently been diagnosed with a strain that will force him to miss the final series of the regular season. The southpaw made 11 appearances (one start) between the Mets and Giants this year and posted a 7.20 ERA and 1.73 WHIP in 15 innings.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Thomas Szapucki: Moves past hip injury
Rotowire
Szapucki (hip) struck out two in a perfect inning Friday versus the Diamondbacks.
Szapucki hadn't pitched since Sept. 24 after exiting his last appearance with hip tightness. Friday marked his first clean outing this year, though his season-long numbers remain skewed by his lone appearance with the Mets in May in which he allowed nine runs in 1.1 innings versus the Giants. He has given up three runs in 11.2 innings across nine outings over two stints in the big leagues with the Giants since he was included in the Darin Ruf trade at the deadline.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Thomas Szapucki: Leaves with hip tightness
Rotowire
Szapucki was removed from Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks with right hip tightness, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Szapucki tossed a couple scoreless innings behind starting pitcher Alex Cobb, needing just 20 pitches to record six outs. It seems he would have continued on if not for the hip injury. If this turns out to be more than a day-to-day issue, Szapucki will finish the campaign with a 9.00 ERA and 16:5 K:BB in nine big-league appearances (one start) between the Mets and Giants.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Thomas Szapucki: Recalled to big leagues
Rotowire
Szapucki was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday.
After recording a 1.08 ERA in Sacramento, Szapucki will make his return to the majors. The 26-year-old lefty has pitched four innings out of the bullpen for the Giants this year, recording a 2.25 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in that time. Fellow releiver Zack Littell was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Thomas Szapucki: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
Szapucki was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Friday.
Szapucki was called up by the Giants in mid-August, and he posted a 2.25 ERA and 1.50 WHIP while striking out seven in four innings over three relief appearances during this stint with the major-league club. However, he'll cede his spot in the bullpen to Scott Alexander, whose contract was selected Friday.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Thomas Szapucki: Dealt to San Francisco
Rotowire
Szapucki was traded from the Mets to the Giants on Tuesday along with J.D. Davis, Nick Zwack and Carson Seymour in exchange for Darin Ruf, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
A lefty who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2019, Szapucki's 65.1 total innings this season are his highest mark in a pro season to date, so it's safe to say he does not have the durability to be a starter. At 26 years old and with a 3.38 ERA and 87 strikeouts at Triple-A, he could be ready to help the Giants' bullpen in short order.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Thomas Szapucki: Sent back down
Rotowire
Szapucki was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Szapucki made his first major-league start Wednesday against the Giants and gave up nine runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out two in 1.1 innings. It's not very surprising to see him sent down following his rough outing, but he'll likely be in the mix to serve as a spot starter later in the year since he has a 2.86 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 22 innings for Syracuse.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Thomas Szapucki: Disastrous first start
Rotowire
Szapucki (0-1) allowed nine earned runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out two across 1.1 innings to take the loss Wednesday against the Giants.
Szapucki was called up to make his first big-league start to fill an opening in the rotation after the Mets had a doubleheader over the weekend. However, he was crushed for four home runs prior to being yanked after recording just four outs. Szapucki will likely find himself back at Triple-A Syracuse in the coming days, where he has maintained a 2.86 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 30:9 K:BB across 22 innings.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Thomas Szapucki: Promotion official
Rotowire
The Mets recalled Szapucki from Triple-A Syracuse ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday against the Giants in San Francisco, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
New York optioned reliever Stephen Nogosek to the minors to make room on the 26-man active roster for Szapucki, who will likely just be making a spot start for the Mets before heading back to Syracuse. Over his seven starts at Syracuse this season, Szapucki has maxed out at five innings and has turned in a 2.86 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 23.1 K-BB%.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Thomas Szapucki: Confirmed as Wednesday's starter
Rotowire
Manager Buck Showalter said Szapucki will be called up from Triple-A Syracuse to start Wednesday's game in San Francisco, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports.
Szapucki will likely just be making a spot start before returning to the minors, as the Mets had to temporarily transition to a six-man rotation as a result of their doubleheader with the Rockies last weekend. Ideally, Szapucki will be able to give the Mets a decent amount of length in his first MLB start and second career appearance in the majors, as New York needed five relievers to cover the final 4.1 innings of Tuesday's 13-12 loss. Through seven outings with Syracuse in 2022, Szapucki has compiled a 2.86 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 30:9 K:BB across 22 innings.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Thomas Szapucki: Could start Wednesday in San Fran
Rotowire
The Mets are "leaning heavily" toward recalling Szapucki from Triple-A Syracuse to start Wednesday's game against the Giants, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
Due to a doubleheader this past weekend in Colorado, the Mets will need to break a sixth starter into the rotation Wednesday, and Szapucki looks like the leading option to make a spot start. Arm injuries have slowed Szapucki's progression through the Mets' farm system since he was drafted in 2015, but he's been healthy and effective at Triple-A this season, submitting a 2.86 ERA and 1.32 WHIP while striking out 30 in 22 innings. If Szapucki does in fact get the call to start Wednesday, he'll most likely be sent back to Syracuse following the outing, but he could make a case to stick around as a back-end member of the rotation over Trevor Williams or David Peterson if he fares better than anticipated in what would be only his second MLB appearance.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Thomas Szapucki: Placed on 60-day injured list
Rotowire
Szapucki (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list Friday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Szapucki had been on the injured list at the Triple-A level since mid-July after undergoing season-ending elbow surgery. He had to be recalled before he could be placed on the 60-day injured list, so he'll now be earning major-league pay and service time while he recovers.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Thomas Szapucki: Elbow surgery ends season
Rotowire
Szapucki underwent ulnar transposition surgery in his left elbow that will end his season, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
The procedure was necessary to repair a nerve issue in the lefty's pitching elbow. Szapucki appeared in one game for the Mets this season and struggled, allowing six runs on seven hits and three walks in just 3.2 innings. It's unclear whether he'll be healthy for the start of spring training in 2022.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Thomas Szapucki: Whiffs seven in Triple-A start
Rotowire
Szapucki struck out a season-high seven batters and allowed three runs (one earned) on two hits and one walk over five innings in his most recent start Friday for Triple-A Syracuse.
Szapucki was making his second start for Syracuse since being returned from the minors after he had served as the Mets' 27th man for the team's May 27 doubleheader with the Rockies. The Mets ultimately didn't need him to provide length out of the bullpen, but the 24-year-old lefty may not have to wait much longer before making his big-league debut. Due to doubleheaders June 19 (in Washington) and June 21 (versus Atlanta), the Mets will soon need to add sixth and seventh starters to the mix on a temporary basis, and Szapucki would appear to be a strong candidate to fill one of the openings.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Thomas Szapucki: Option for taxi squad
Rotowire
Szapucki is a strong candidate for a spot on the taxi squad for the Mets, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
Injuries have limited the southpaw to only 145 minor-league innings since being drafted in the fifth round in 2015, but Szapucki has still flashed upside when he's been on the mound, posting a 2.63 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 72:26 K:BB in 61.2 innings across three levels in 2019. If the 23-year-old does wind up in the mix for the Mets this season, he could make his big-league debut in relief.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Thomas Szapucki: Added to 40-man roster
Rotowire
Szapucki's (arm) contract was purchased from Double-A Binghamton on Wednesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
This move protects the southpaw from the Rule 5 draft. He was scratched from the Arizona Fall League roster after ending the year on the 7-day injured list. The team has not provided an official injury, just saying that Szapucki was going to rest his arm for a while. While his season ended on a slightly ominous note, it had been a successful first year back from Tommy John surgery from a performance standpoint. He will likely open back at Double-A and should spend most of the year at Triple-A.
