The New York Mets have finally gained some clarity on Yoenis Cespedes’ health situation. Unfortunately, it appears that their injury-prone power hitter may be out for the rest of the 2019 season. The team announced on Wednesday that Cespedes will undergo surgeries to remove calcifications in both of his troublesome heels, a problem he has been dealing with since his teenage years.
John Ricco, currently acting as general manager in the absence of Sandy Alderson, who is on leave due to a cancer recurrence, stated that Cespedes’ MRI revealed calcifications around his Achilles tendons and bone spurs in each heel.
The 32-year-old player is scheduled for his first surgery this week, with a second surgery planned in 2 to 3 months, according to Ricco. The team expects Cespedes to return to the field in 8 to 10 months, though the recovery process could be longer. Ricco also reassured that these injuries do not pose a threat to Cespedes’ career.
Speaking through an interpreter at a press conference, Cespedes expressed his feelings about the upcoming surgeries, saying, “Nobody likes to have surgery or go through it anytime. I did my best to stay on the field and play as much as possible. But we exhausted all non-surgical treatment options, and there came a point where I couldn’t continue playing.”
This realization hit Cespedes last Friday, following his return after a nine-week absence due to a right hip flexor issue. He played three rehab games before rejoining the team and performing well against the Yankees. However, he later experienced intense pain in both heels, leading to his placement on the 10-day disabled list on Tuesday as the Mets began to understand the severity of Cespedes’ heel problems.
