Minter gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday during a loss to the Reds.
Seeing his first big-league action in over a year due to a lat injury that required surgery last May, Minter fired 10 of 16 pitches for strikes. The southpaw's velocity was down -- he topped out at 93.6 mph with his fastball after averaging 94.5 mph the prior two seasons -- but that could come around as he shakes off the last of his rust. Minter should quickly slot back into a high-leverage role in the Mets' bullpen, sharing setup duties with Luke Weaver and Brooks Raley.
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Mets' A.J. Minter: Returns from 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Mets activated Minter (lat) from the 60-day injured list Tuesday.
Minter's last appearance in the majors came last April prior to him having left lat surgery in May. He's completed a long rehab and held a 1.59 ERA and 7:1 K:BB over 11.1 innings on his rehab assignment. Minter's velocity was down during those rehab outings, however, so the Mets might pitch him in low-leverage spots initially.
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Mets' A.J. Minter: On track for activation Tuesday
Rotowire
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Monday that Minter (lat) will likely be activated from the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports.
It's been a long road back for Minter, who hasn't pitched for the Mets since undergoing left lat surgery last May. Minter produced good results on his rehab assignment, holding a 1.59 ERA and 7:1 K:BB over 11.1 innings. However, the lefty averaged only 92.3 mph with his four-seamer in his final rehab appearance with Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday, which is more than two mph down from last year's pace. As such, Minter could be eased into high-leverage situations.
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Mets' A.J. Minter: On track to return next week
Rotowire
Minter (hip/lat) pitched Tuesday and Wednesday for Triple-A Syracuse, and he's expected to make one more rehab appearance this weekend before being activated from the 60-day injured list early next week, Tim Britton and Will Sammon of The Athletic report.
The veteran southpaw hasn't pitched in the majors in over a calendar year after undergoing surgery to repair a lat muscle in May 2025 and then dealing with a hip issue in early May of this season, but Minter is poised to make his 2026 debut for the Mets. Over 6.2 innings for Syracuse, he's delivered a 2.70 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 3:1 K:BB, and he should quickly regain a high-leverage role in front of closer Devin Williams.
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Mets' A.J. Minter: Shifted to 60-day injured list
Rotowire
The Mets transferred Minter (lat/hip) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.
The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of right-hander Daniel Duarte, who was called up from Triple-A Syracuse. The move doesn't alter Minter's timetable, as he's already spent nearly 60 days on the shelf, and his activation isn't imminent. Out all season while recovering from last year's lat surgery, Minter was pulled off his rehab assignment earlier this month because of left hip discomfort. He resumed his rehab this past Friday with a scoreless frame for Syracuse.
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Mets' A.J. Minter: Resuming rehab soon
Rotowire
Minter (hip/lat) is expected to resume a rehab assignment this weekend, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Minter has been out all season while recovering from lat surgery and had to be pulled off his initial rehab assignment when he developed left hip discomfort. He appears to have moved past the hip issue and should be ready to rejoin the Mets' bullpen later this month if things go well.
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Mets' A.J. Minter: Bouncing back from hip injury
Rotowire
Minter (hip/lat) completed a bullpen session Saturday, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports.
Minter was placed on the 15-day injured list prior to Opening Day while he finished up his recovery from March 2025 surgery on his left lat, and though he experienced no setbacks with that injury once he began pitching in minor-league games in early April, he was pulled off the assignment last week when he experienced left hip discomfort. Given that he's already resumed mound work, Minter seems to be bouncing back nicely from the hip issue. He's expected to throw more bullpen sessions before the Mets consider him for a return to game action, though it's unclear if he'll require another extended minor-league assignment prior to being activated.
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Mets' A.J. Minter: Heads to IL
Rotowire
The Mets placed Minter (lat) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Still on the mend from the left lat surgery he underwent May 12, 2025, Minter is expected to spend the next couple of weeks continuing his rehab program at the Mets' spring training facility in Florida, per MLB.com. The southpaw reliever has been facing hitters for the past few weeks, so he could get the green light to start a rehab assignment at Single-A St. Lucie shortly after the Florida State League season gets underway. Minter is expected to eventually move up to a higher-level affiliate as the final step before he makes his return from the IL.
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Mets' A.J. Minter: Looking good in live BP
Rotowire
Minter (lat) hit 93 mph with his fastball in a live batting practice session Friday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
That's still a little below his usual velocity, but Minter also worked in his changeup and cutter during the mound session, with the latter pitch getting Francisco Lindor (hand) to exclaim, "That was sick." Minter hasn't pitched in a game since April 26, 2025, but he's hoping he'll be ready to rejoin the Mets' high-leverage crew by late April this season. "Honestly, it feels way better than I expected it was going to feel," Minter said of his repertoire after Friday's session.
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Mets' A.J. Minter: Slated for live BP Wednesday
Rotowire
Minter (lat) will throw a live batting practice session Wednesday, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports.
It will be his first time facing hitters since he underwent left lat surgery last May. Minter hopes to pitch in at least one Grapefruit League game before camp breaks and is aiming for his season debut in late April or early May.
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Mets' A.J. Minter: Facing hitters next week
Rotowire
Minter (lat) expects to throw a live batting practice session next week, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
It would be his first time facing hitters since last May's left lat surgery. Minter is aiming to pitch in at least one Grapefruit League game before the end of camp, and the Mets hope to get the southpaw back in their bullpen by early May.
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Mets' A.J. Minter: Expected to miss first month
Rotowire
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said Tuesday that the team is targeting early May for Minter's (lat) season debut, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports.
Minter will get a late start to the season after undergoing left lat surgery last May. It's not clear where the veteran reliever is at in his throwing program, but he will be slow-played during spring training before eventually going out on a rehab assignment. Once healthy, Minter will fill a setup role ahead of closer Devin Williams.
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Mets' A.J. Minter: Questionable for Opening Day
Rotowire
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said Monday that Minter (lat) is questionable for Opening Day, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Minter underwent season-ending left lat surgery in early May and it's unclear where exactly he is in the rehab process. Stearns noted that if Minter is not ready for Opening Day, his absence is expected to be brief. The southpaw exercised his $11 million player option for 2026 and is poised to fill a key setup role for the Mets, if healthy.
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Mets' A.J. Minter: Exercises player option
Rotowire
Minter (lat) exercised his $11 million player option for 2026 on Monday, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
Minter made only 13 relief appearances for the Mets in 2025 before undergoing season-ending left lat surgery in early May. The left-hander is expected to be recovered in time for the start of spring training and will return to a high-leverage role in the Mets' bullpen. Minter could even see some save chances in 2026 if Edwin Diaz departs via free agency.
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Mets' A.J. Minter: To have season-ending surgery
Rotowire
Minter will undergo surgery May 12 to repair a torn left lat, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
Minter was moved to the 60-day injured list Thursday, and it's since been disclosed that he's elected for season-ending surgery. The veteran southpaw was off to a strong start to the 2025 campaign, allowing only two runs in 13 appearances.
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Mets' A.J. Minter: Notches fourth hold
Rotowire
Minter worked a perfect eighth inning Thursday to record his fourth hold of the season in a win over the Cardinals.
The southpaw needed only nine pitches (six strikes) to breeze through the top of the St. Louis batting order. Minter has had a strong start to the season as one of the primary setup men for Edwin Diaz, posting a 2.16 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and 12:1 K:BB through 8.1 innings over nine appearances.
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Mets' A.J. Minter: Cleared for spring debut
Rotowire
Minter (hip) will make his Grapefruit League in Wednesday's game versus the Cardinals, Manny Gomez of NJ.com reports.
Minter will be in line for his first game action since he underwent hip surgery last August. He has just over two weeks to ramp up for Opening Day, but since he'll be deployed as a one-inning reliever, he'll likely need only a handful of appearances in spring training to get himself ready. He's projected to help set up for closer Edwin Diaz in the Mets bullpen this season.
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Mets' A.J. Minter: Facing live batters
Rotowire
Minter (hip) is throwing a live bullpen session Sunday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
It's the first time since undergoing hip surgery in August that Minter is throwing against live hitters. The left-hander joined the Mets on a two-year, $22 million contract in January and is expected to serve as the setup man for closer Edwin Diaz. Minter could be available for Opening Day if he's able to continue progressing in his rehab with no setbacks over the next few weeks.
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Mets' A.J. Minter: Expects velocity to return
Rotowire
Minter believes he'll be able to regain his prior velocity following last August's hip surgery, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
The 31-year-old southpaw averaged a career-high 96.7 mph with his fastball in 2022, leading to a 34.7 percent strikeout rate, but those numbers declined to 94.6 mph and a 26.1 percent K rate in 2024. "It's more of the biomechanical side, how to use my legs again," Minter said this week. "[The Mets] were showing me a few examples of the past. Like, in the '22 season, I was really good and throwing really hard. Then you could see the steady decline in my mechanics and then my velocity." Minter is being brought along slowly this spring, but he's expected to be ready to fill a high-leverage role in the bullpen early in the season, if not by Opening Day.
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Mets' A.J. Minter: Optimism for Opening Day
Rotowire
Minter (hip) isn't guaranteed to be ready for Opening Day, though the Mets are optimistic he'll be available, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
The left-hander joined New York on a two-year, $22 million contract in mid-January and is poised to serve as a setup man for closer Edwin Diaz. According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, Minter is expected to throw his first bullpen of the spring in late February. He underwent hip surgery in August and should be in game-ready condition early in the season even if he's not fully good to go by Opening Day.
