The New York Mets announced on Friday that top prospect Jett Williams had a right wrist TFCC debridement procedure on Thursday and will be out for approximately 8-10 weeks. Williams last played on April 21 for Double-A Binghamton and has since been sidelined with a wrist injury.
The approximate recovery timeline means Williams is expected to return at some point in August. Any potential setback in his recovery could keep him out through the end of the season.
Jett Williams underwent a right wrist TFCC debridement procedure yesterday with Dr. Donald Sheridan in Scottsdale, AZ. A typical return to game activity for this type of procedure is 8-10 weeks.
— Mets Player Development (@MetsPlayerDev) June 7, 2024
Jett Williams Undergoes Wrist Surgery, Out Until August
Williams, 20, received two cortisone shots in his troublesome wrist hoping they would help him avoid surgery. Unfortunately, the shots did not fully alleviate the pain, thus resulting in Thursday’s procedure.
According to Dr. Jesse Morse, a Sports & Family Medicine physician, one’s TFCC aids in the twisting motion of the wrist. Williams’ procedure removed damaged tissue and tears from his wrist, which should help remove the pain. Morse also tweeted that the injury is common and that most players make a full recovery.
The procedure continues what has been a disappointing season for Williams. Before the injury, the former first-round pick was batting .179/.360/.308 in 11 Double-A games. These struggles aren’t too worrisome considering the small sample size.
However, missing so much time with injury impacts Williams’ development. The Texas native told reporters in spring training that his goal was to make his MLB debut this season. While the odds were never really in his favor, the surgery surely moved the odds to zero.
Williams Prospect Status Post Surgery
Expectations were rightfully high for Williams after a stellar 2023. He hit .263/.425/.451 over three different levels while deploying his athleticism at shortstop and center field. Plus, he impressed many evaluators with elite speed and mature plate discipline at just 19 years old.
Mets now have 6 players in Baseball America’s Top 100:
No. 27 Christian Scott
No. 32 Jett Williams
No. 74 Drew Gilbert
No. 76 Ronny Mauricio
No. 94 Blade Tidwell
No. 97 Brandon Sproat https://t.co/NF9RdOl9Yb— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) June 5, 2024
Even with a disappointing 2024, evaluators still view Williams in high regard. Baseball America updated their Top 100 Prospects rankings this week and tabbed Williams as the 32nd-best prospect in baseball. The outlet also ranked him as New York’s best position player prospect and second-best overall behind Christian Scott.
If Williams does return from his wrist procedure in August, he will only have a few weeks before the season ends. The Mets would likely send him to the Arizona Fall League to get him more playing time and development. But, no matter how he performs, Williams will likely start 2025 in Double-A.
Williams’ wrist surgery will definitely delay his MLB timeline. However, his prospect status should not be impacted by this injury. Williams will still be a big part of the Mets’ plans for the rest of this decade and possibly beyond.
Photo Credit: © Jeff Miller / Special to the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin / USA TODAY NETWORK
