The New York Mets have lost right-hander Robert Stock for the remainder of the 2026 season, but the nature of the injury appears to be less alarming than initially feared. Stock was placed on the 15-day injured list after experiencing numbness and weakness in his right hand and fingers, ending a comeback season that had already been complicated by thoracic outlet syndrome surgery earlier this year.
Stock was originally scheduled to start the Mets’ series finale against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday, but the Mets scratched him after the symptoms returned during his recent outings. The concern was significant enough that the organization did not want to risk sending him to the mound while he was dealing with weakness in his wrist and numbness that had extended into his fingers.
The good news came after additional medical testing. According to Stock, an MRI showed that the problem was related to poor circulation in his hand rather than a more serious structural injury. He has already started medication intended to improve circulation, giving him and the Mets some optimism that the issue can be managed without another major procedure.
That distinction is particularly important because Stock had already undergone surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome during spring training. He worked his way back quickly enough to pitch in eight games for New York, including seven starts. Although his numbers were not dominant, simply returning to a major-league mound represented an important step in his career after a lengthy and unusual professional journey.
Stock’s season ends after difficult comeback
The 36-year-old Stock finishes the season with a 1-3 record and a 5.93 ERA across his eight appearances. He last pitched on Sept. 9 against the Miami Marlins, allowing three runs over four innings. His season ultimately ended before he could make the scheduled start against Baltimore.
While those statistics do not tell the entire story of his season, Stock viewed his return to the majors as evidence that he can still compete at the highest level. He said he believes he has done enough to remain in consideration for a major-league opportunity in 2027 and identified several areas he wants to improve, including his pitch mix, strike throwing and velocity.
Stock’s comments also revealed how much the opportunity with the Mets meant to him. After spending years moving between organizations, the independent leagues, Korea and Mexico, his return to the major leagues represented a significant personal achievement. His goal now is to turn that opportunity into something more permanent.
Why the Mets pulled him from Wednesday’s start
The timing of the injury created an immediate problem for New York. The Mets were already dealing with a heavily used bullpen after the previous two games, making the possibility of a short outing particularly dangerous.
Rather than asking Stock to take the mound while uncertain whether the medication would work, the Mets elected to remove him from the scheduled start. Stock acknowledged that the team needed its starting pitcher to be capable of doing the job and did not want to put the club in a difficult position by attempting to pitch through the symptoms.
New York subsequently recalled right-hander Xzavion Curry from Triple-A Syracuse. Curry stepped into Stock’s spot for the series finale against Baltimore. He had already made eight relief appearances for the Mets this season and entered Wednesday with a 3.44 ERA in those outings, giving the club an immediate option to cover the unexpected vacancy in the rotation.
Another Mets pitcher also goes down
Stock was not the only Mets pitcher to land on the injured list. Right-handed reliever Daniel Duarte was also placed on the 15-day IL with a left hamstring strain, ending his 2026 campaign.
Duarte’s injury represents another notable loss for a Mets pitching staff that has endured plenty of instability throughout the season. The 29-year-old produced a 2.12 ERA across 24 appearances, going 2-0 with two saves while striking out 30 batters and walking only seven in 29⅔ innings.
Duarte suffered the injury during Tuesday night’s 7-5 loss to the Orioles. He remained in the game after appearing to hurt his hamstring but ultimately landed on the injured list the following day. Interim manager Andy Green praised Duarte’s season and noted that he had handled important setup and closing responsibilities for the Mets.
Left-hander Jefry Yan was recalled to replace Duarte on the roster. Yan had previously appeared for New York this season and gives the Mets another left-handed option for the final portion of the schedule.
The bigger picture for Stock
Despite the disappointing ending, there is an important distinction between Stock being unavailable for the remainder of 2026 and suffering an injury that threatens his career. The medical information currently available points toward a circulation issue rather than a new major structural problem with his arm.
That is why Stock’s outlook appears considerably more positive than the phrase “season-ending injury” might initially suggest. The Mets have shut him down because there is little reason to take unnecessary risks with the season already nearing its conclusion, but Stock believes his arm remains in good condition.
Stock has also made clear that he does not view his 36th year as the end of his career. Instead, he wants to use the experience as another step toward establishing himself as a dependable major-league pitcher. He has already demonstrated the ability to overcome setbacks, and his return from thoracic outlet surgery was another example of that persistence.
For the Mets, however, the immediate focus is simply getting through the final weeks of the season. New York has struggled throughout 2026 and entered the final stretch near the bottom of the NL East, making the loss of another starting option and a productive reliever an additional complication.
Still, Stock’s situation carries a silver lining. The season is over for him, but the available medical information does not point to the worst-case scenario. If the circulation problem responds to treatment and he completes the offseason without further complications, Stock could enter the 2027 offseason believing that his major-league comeback is far from finished.
For a pitcher who has spent much of his career fighting for another opportunity, that may ultimately be the most important development of all.
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