New York Mets second baseman Neil Walker will undergo season-ending back surgery as he continues to battle pain related to a herniated disk.
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Walker Comments on Surgery
Thursday, Sept. 1
Walker said he will have a three-month recovery following his surgery, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Walker indicated that he cannot feel a toe because a disk in his back is pressing against a nerve, per James Wagner of the New York Times.
According to Marc Carig of Newsday, after getting multiple opinions, Walker said playing through the injury would exacerbate the issue.
Walker, who missed four straight games and eight total in August, has been dealing with a herniated disk that has caused him considerable discomfort. According to the New York Post‘s Howie Kussoy, the herniated disk caused “weakness in one of his legs and numbness in one of his feet.”
“It’s been on and off all year,” manager Terry Collins added, per Kussoy. “As Neil puts it, he has grinded it out, the discomfort level. Sometimes it goes up, and when it goes back down he needs rest until the strength comes back up again.”
Walker’s Injury Comes at Unfortunate Time for Mets
The news comes as a blow to the Mets, who are still hanging tough in the National League wild-card race with the regular season drawing to a close.
Before hitting the shelf, Walker batted .282 with 23 home runs, 55 RBI and a .347 on-base percentage.
The Mets should continue to employ Wilmer Flores as a stopgap solution at second base.
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