​There was no hiding it. “I mean, it’s definitely a 10. It’s the elbow, that’s my bread and butter,” Mets relief pitcher Austin Warren said Wednesday, candid about his level of concern regarding his most recent injury. The admission came after a troubling stretch that saw him struggle and not feel like himself in his last two outings, culminating in a 15-day injured list designation with right forearm tightness as he awaits MRI results.
In those two-plus innings of work, Warren has surrendered nine runs on eight hits. The recent performance included a brutal Tuesday night in which he allowed five runs without recording an out in the Mets’ wild loss to the Kansas City Royals. The right-hander indicated that the forearm tightness began during and after that game, growing more noticeable as the outing progressed.
“Forearm tightness, yes. Haven’t felt great the past couple,” Warren said. “Obviously, that’s part of the game these days. I’ve had outings earlier in the year that I haven’t felt great that went better than last night. But yeah, last night, I threw a pitch, I don’t know what pitch number it was, but it just didn’t feel great. I came right in and told them right away. Yeah, got some MRIs this morning and we’re waiting to hear back.”
Warren, who is 30 years old, is well aware of the implications given that he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023. When asked how this current setback compares to his previous experience, he emphasized that elbow injuries are never easy for a pitcher to navigate and expressed a hope that this is ultimately manageable, not catastrophic.
“It’s hard to explain. The elbow is a crucial part of a pitcher’s body. It’s not fun, but hopefully it’s not bad,” Warren said. “It’s hard to say. I’ve had Tommy John before, obviously I don’t want to have it again. I hope it’s not serious, hopefully it’s just some inflammation from throwing a lot lately. We’ll hopefully know in the next couple of hours or tomorrow.”
The potential absence of Warren would be another significant blow to the Mets bullpen. This season, he has gone 1-3 with a 4.63 ERA across 26 appearances. Yet he has also shown flashes of his ceiling, most notably in May when he posted a sparkling 1.15 ERA over 11 appearances, underscoring the talent the Mets would be keen to preserve if a short-term or longer absence becomes necessary.
As Warren awaits the MRI results and the club awaits further clarity, the Mets face a bullpen challenge that could intensify if his condition requires extended time on the shelf. The front office and coaching staff are left to weigh containment strategies and potential bullpen reshuffling should Warren need to miss additional time. In the meantime, the uncertainty hangs over a pitcher who has demonstrated both durability and the potential for elite performance, making his health a focal point for New York as they navigate a crucial stretch of the season.