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Tim Byrdak Confirms He Will Have Shoulder Surgery

By Chris McShane
August 1, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Tim Byrdak (40) on the pitchers mound against the San Francisco Giants during the eighth inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE
August 1, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Tim Byrdak (40) on the pitchers mound against the San Francisco Giants during the eighth inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

Tim Byrdak has confirmed that he will undergo surgery to repair the torn anterior capsule in his pitching shoulder in the near future. After learning on Monday that Byrdak suffered the same injury that felled Johan Santana and Chris Young, it unfortunately comes as no surprise that he needs surgery, too. Given the fact that Byrdak will be at least 39 years old by the time he's able to take the mound again, his career is undoubtedly in question.

Signed by the Mets before the 2011 season to fill the void created by Pedro Feliciano's departure to greener pastures with the Yankees, Byrdak performed quite well as a left-handed specialist. In 68.1 innings with the Mets, Byrdak had a 4.08 ERA and 3.34 FIP. While he struggled against right-handed hitters and issued too many walks in general, Byrdak posted a 10.67 K/9 in his time with the Mets thanks to his dominance of left-handed opponents.

In the short- and long-term, the Mets appear to at least have a replacement for Byrdak in Josh Edgin, who has looked great over the first 12.2 innings of his big-league career.

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