NEW YORK — Mets rookie right-hander Christian Scott is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery next week and is expected to miss the entire 2025 season.
Scott hasn’t pitched since July 21 due to a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow but hoped to return this month to the Mets, who entered Wednesday night two games ahead of Atlanta for the last National League playoff spot.
“I think it’s safe to say that he’s done for next year,” New York manager Carlos Mendoza said. “That’s why we waited – he gave it a try because if this was the decision, we knew he was going to be done anyway.”
The 25-year-old Scott began throwing off a mound late last month but said Wednesday he had a difficult time ramping up his off-speed pitches.
“Just couldn’t get over the hump with some of the off-speed pitches. Once we started to reach that over 82, 83 mph, it’s kind of the same feeling as before,” Scott said. “Talked to a lot of the medical staff, a lot of these guys here. We decided this is the best decision moving forward.”
Scott will have a hybrid version of Tommy John surgery in which he has the traditional ligament replacement while also adding an internal brace. Dr. Keith Meister will perform the procedure.
The surgery will address a long-simmering concern for Scott, who missed three weeks with a partially torn ligament in his right elbow last season, when he posted a 2.57 ERA for three affiliates and was selected the Mets’ minor league pitcher of the year.
“Obviously, I love to go out and compete and I love to do what I do. This is the best job in the world,” Scott said. “But at the same time, this is what we sign up for. It’s unfortunate, but at the same time, be positive about it and go out and be the best version of myself I possibly can on a day-to-day basis and do everything I can to get my body in a position to compete in ’26.”
Scott finished 0-3 with a 4.56 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 47 1/3 innings over nine starts. He had an impressive major league debut at Tampa Bay in early May.
“It’s not good that he’s going to be down for a long time, but you could use this experience this year as a development for him,” Mendoza said. “He took the baseball for us, he gave us a chance, he continues to learn and he knows what it takes to be a big league player, what it takes to be a big league pitcher, and just having the understanding of the grind and everything that comes with…