Mets’ Erik Goeddel pitched through bone spurs in 2016

Mets pitcher Erik Goeddel pitched through bone spurs in 2016, according to Anthony DiComo. After the condition was diagnosed in October, the right-hander underwent offseason surgery and is currently deemed “good.”

After a promising 2015 rookie season in which he had a 2.43 ERA, Goeddel struggled with a 4.54 ERA in 2016. The former 24th-round pick struck out 36 batters over 35.1 innings, but saw his walk rate increase from 2.4 batters per nine innings in 2015 to 3.5 batters per nine innings in 2016. Goeddel was also prone to the long ball in 2016, allowing five home runs—four more than he allowed the previous year.

Though it is not known exactly when the bone spurs began to bother Goeddel, it might be of interest to note his 3.65 ERA at the All-Star break, compared with his 5.01 ERA thereafter. His strikeout rate actually rose significantly in the second half, though, so we can probably just chalk these numbers up to small sample sizes.

It is also worth noting that Goeddel’s velocity was down in 2016; after averaging 93 miles per hour on his fastball and topping out at 96.4 in 2015, he averaged 91.9 miles per hour in 2016, topping out at 95.

Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz also pitched through bone spurs in their pitching elbows, making this the Mets’ third such case in 2016—something the Mets will hope not to repeat in 2017.