NEW YORK (AP) – Mets right-handed Noah Syndergaard encountered another hurdle in his recovery from surgery on Tommy John on Sunday when he was scratched from a rehab start for testing positive for COVID-19 said someone familiar with the situation.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity as the team did not disclose the test result. New York manager Luis Rojas said Sunday Syndergaard had a “non-baseball-related injury”. He has confirmed that Syndergaard has been vaccinated.
Syndergaard – who turned 29 on Sunday – tweeted: “This birthday is so sick.”
Syndergaard, who has not played in the majors since September 29, 2019, was operated on shortly after the pandemic shut down in March 2020. He started a rehab assignment that spring but left his second start at Low-A St. Lucie 26 in May with an inflammation of the right elbow.
Syndergaard, who is slated to join the free agency after the season, didn’t reappear until Thursday’s rehab trip when he gave up a run in an inning. Afterward, he said he hadn’t thrown his slider or curveball because doctors believed the off-speed spots were bothering his elbow.
With Syndergaard not having time to handle the workload of a typical starter, the Mets are hoping he can rejoin the team as a reliever. He was expected to throw at least one inning for Singe-A Brooklyn on Sunday.
