NEW YORK _ Travis d'Arnaud will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair the partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow next week, costing the catcher his season, the Mets announced on Friday afternoon.
D'Arnaud was put on the disabled list two days ago and was transferred to the 60-day DL on Friday afternoon to help make room for veteran catcher Jose Lobaton, who signed a minor-league contract with the Mets this offseason. The announcement comes on the same day the Mets lost Kevin Plawecki with a hairline fracture in his left hand. Plawecki, who will not require surgery, is expected to be out three to four weeks, the Mets said.
The Mets began the season with a sort of platoon between d'Arnaud and Plawecki, and, for now, will likely use Lobaton and prospect Tomas Nido. D'Arnaud was 3-for-15 in four games this season.
Plawecki was hit by a Tayron Guerrero pitch in the eighth inning of Wednesday's game against the Marlins, and photos posted on Twitter showed a nasty bruise on his catching hand. X-Rays originally came up negative, but the Mets said an MRI at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City on Thursday revealed the extent of the injury.
The Mets called up Lobaton from Triple-A Las Vegas, recalled outfielder Brandon Nimmo from Las Vegas and optioned Jacob Rhame to Las Vegas on Friday afternoon. They called up Nido, the team's top catching prospect, from Double-A Binghamton on Wednesday after placing d'Arnaud on the disabled list. They will also now need to explore further long-term options.
After getting hit on the hand Wednesday, Plawecki initially stayed in the game and came around to score on an Adrian Gonzalez single, but when he was due up next after the Mets batted around, Nido pinch hit for him.
Manager Mickey Callaway said after the game that X-rays on Plawecki's hand were negative.
