Nationals' Bryce Montes de Oca: Looks healthy in camp
Rotowire
Montes de Oca (elbow) faced live hitters during Wednesday's full-squad workout.
Montes de Oca looks to be free of restrictions this spring after he missed the entire 2025 season while he was on the mend from his second career Tommy John surgery, which he underwent late in 2024. The 29-year-old right-hander signed a minor-league deal with the Nationals in January and is likely to open the season in the Triple-A Rochester bullpen.
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Nationals' Bryce Montes de Oca: Lands with Nationals as NRI
Rotowire
The Nationals signed Montes de Oca (elbow) to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to spring training.
Montes de Oca has thrown a total of just 10 innings over the last three seasons due to a pair of Tommy John surgeries, and it's not clear whether he will be ready to go at the beginning of spring training. The big right-hander boasts a 31.9 percent strikeout rate during his time in the minors and fanned six batters in 3.1 innings with the Mets in 2022, so there's bat-missing ability if he's able to stay healthy and throw strikes.
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Mets' Bryce Montes de Oca: Another Tommy John surgery
Rotowire
Montes de Oca underwent a second Tommy John surgery toward the end of last year's minor-league season, Michael Mayer of MetsmerizedOnline.com reports.
De Oca had his first Tommy John surgery in March of 2023 and needed the operation again less than two years later. The 28-year-old made only 13 appearances in 2024 after not making any in 2023, and he's now looking at another lost season. De Oca has a 31.9 percent strikeout rate during his time in the minors and fanned six batters in 3.1 innings with the Mets in 2022, but he also had a career 18.1 percent walk rate in the minors and a lengthy injury history. The odds are stacked against him for making it back to the big leagues.
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Mets' Bryce Montes de Oca: Cleared for action at Double-A
Rotowire
Montes de Oca (elbow) was activated from Triple-A Syracuse's 60-day injured list Saturday and assigned to Double-A Binghamton.
Montes de Oca made his 2024 Binghamton debut Saturday against Akron, striking out two over a scoreless inning out of the bullpen. The 28-year-old reliever had been on the IL all season for Syracuse while completing his recovery from his March 2023 Tommy John surgery. Montes de Oca could eventually join Syracuse later on in the campaign if he's first able to string together a few quality appearances with Binghamton.
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Mets' Bryce Montes de Oca: Remains in organization
Rotowire
Montes de Oca (elbow) cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse on Monday.
Montes de Oca is no longer on the Mets' 40-man roster but will remain in the organization. The big right-hander missed all of 2023 and is expected to be sidelined until around midseason of 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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Mets' Bryce Montes de Oca: Outrighted off 40-man
Rotowire
The Mets placed Montes de Oca (elbow) on outright waivers Thursday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Montes de Oca underwent Tommy John surgery shortly before Opening Day, causing him to miss the entire 2023 season. Though he no longer holds a spot on New York's 40-man roster, the 27-year-old righty could be brought back on once he fully recovers from his procedure.
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Mets' Bryce Montes de Oca: Begins throwing program
Rotowire
Montes de Oca (elbow) has begun a throwing program, Metsmerized Online reports.
Montes de Oca is nearly seven months removed from Tommy John surgery and is finally testing out his rebuilt elbow with some catch at the Mets' spring training complex in Florida. The big reliever will be sidelined until around midseason next year.
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Mets' Bryce Montes de Oca: Moved to 60-day IL
Rotowire
Montes de Oca (elbow) was transferred Tuesday from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL.
It's a procedural move to open up a 40-man roster spot for Denyi Reyes, whose contract was selected from the minors. Montes de Oca underwent Tommy John surgery last week and won't return to live action until sometime in mid-2024.
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Mets' Bryce Montes de Oca: Headed for elbow surgery
Rotowire
Montes de Oca will undergo arthroscopic surgery Wednesday to remove bone fragments from his right elbow, Russell Dorsey of Bally Sports reports.
Dorsey hears that the 26-year-old right-hander is looking at around four months of rest and rehab "with a possible return to action in mid-August." Montes de Oca made his MLB debut in 2022 and almost certainly would have been given another shot at some point in the first half of the 2023 campaign. He spent the majority of last season in the upper minors, pitching to a 3.33 ERA with 80 strikeouts in 51.1 innings between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse.
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Mets' Bryce Montes de Oca: Leaves with apparent injury
Rotowire
Montes de Oca exited Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays with an apparent injury after he was visited on the mound by an athletic trainer, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Montes de Oca has pitched well thus far in camp, but he issued three straight walks Sunday before being removed with what could be an arm-related issue. The 26-year-old should be considered day-to-day until more information is available.
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Mets' Bryce Montes de Oca: Goes on IL
Rotowire
The Mets placed Montes de Oca on the 15-day injured list Monday with left hamstring tightness.
A best-case scenario has the hard-throwing righty returning near the end of September. It appears unlikely Montes de Oca, with his 10.80 ERA in three appearances, makes the postseason roster, so it's possible he doesn't pitch again in 2022.
