Matt Harvey has symptoms consistent with thoracic outlet syndrome, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson told reporters Thursday.
Harvey went on the disabled list Wednesday with shoulder discomfort. He visited a St. Louis-based vascular specialist on Thursday.
Surgery would require a four-month rehab, Alderson said, though there is a non-surgical option. Harvey has not decided what he will do yet.
Alderson said surgery is probably inevitable, but is just a matter of timing with Harvey.
The 27-year-old Harvey is 4-10 with a 4.86 ERA. Entering the season as ace of baseball’s youngest and most dynamic staff, he has pitched with little of the poise and confidence that had once defined him.
Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a general term for symptoms that stem from the compression of blood vessels and nerves. The Cardinals’ Jaime Garcia, former Met Chris Young and one-time Red Sox ace Josh Beckett are among those who have bounced back from surgery to treat thoracic outlet syndrome. All faced a lengthy rehab process.
Twins pitcher Phil Hughes underwent surgery to deal with TOS recently, though he had concerns about having the condition as early as 2011, when he was still pitching for the Yankees.
For some such as former Tigers righty Jeremy Bonderman, thoracic outlet syndrome proved to be career ending.
With Marc Carig
..... - Newsday