NEW YORK -- To Seth Lugo, the specter of Tommy John surgery is not a significant worry. Lugo has never felt pain, only tightness in his elbow, which he learned Monday stems from a partial ligament tear. So he is confident that when doctors allow him to start throwing again in two weeks, Lugo will do so without issue.
The Mets are less convinced, citing Lugo's MRI results as reason for concern.
"The doctors are optimistic that he can avoid surgery," general manager Sandy Alderson said. "But we would not have put in the surgical reference in the press release if we didn't think that was a possibility.