NEW YORK — Bobby Parnell’s return from Tommy John surgery is not imminent but when it does occur, he will not be closing games for the New York Mets.
For manager Terry Collins, there’s a very good reason for that and his name is Jeurys Famila.
Familia was not the closer when the season began April 6 but was thrust into that role when his close friend Jenrry Mejia was suspended 80 games for a positive drug test five days later.
Since taking over, Familia has six saves and a 2.35 ERA in eight appearances after going 2-1 with a 5.99 ERA in spring training games.
It has been assumed that Parnell will resume closing but so far his velocity has not been great.
“It’s been a year since Bobby has been out there,” Collins said before Familia recorded the save in Sunday’s 7-6 win over the Marlins. “If Bobby, when he shows up shows us the same stuff that we saw a year ago, we will try to get him back in the role he’s comfortable with.
“Right now, Jeruys Familia has pitched well enough. He is that guy until those other guys show us they’re ready for it if we need to make any changes.”
Familia set a rookie record with 76 appearances last season, posting a 2.21 ERA while leading all first-year pitchers in games pitched. He also had the fifth-lowest batting average against among NL pitchers with at least 75 innings and had a 1.81 ERA from April 25 to the end of the season.
With Parnell, the Mets have experience as he has 36 saves but also has recent injury history. Besides needing Tommy John surgery last April, Parnell also had surgery to repair a herniated disk in his neck in September 2013 as well as numbness in his right hand in 2011 and inflammation in his right elbow in 2010.
Of course, Parnell’s eventual return was not the main concern as Sunday unfolded.
Before Familia ended his latest save by retiring Giancarlo Stanton on a slider, the Mets lost left-hander Jerry Blevins to a fractured left forearm after he was hit by a Dee Gordon line drive in the seventh.
“We’ve asked this guy to come in and face the best left-handers in our division,” Collins said after the game. “He’s done a tremendous job. This was probably the first time he’s ever been put in that big a role and he’s done a tremendous job. This is a big blow.”
Though the team has not announced a timetable for Blevins to return, this will be a lengthy injury. Blevins was in a sling and a cast afterward and will consult with doctors at Manhattan’s Hospital for Special Surgery on Monday.
In the meantime, the Mets will figure out a way to get the ball to Familia, who like everyone else was saddened about the injury.
“We win today, but at the same time, it’s a little said,” Familia said.