Hefner may need Tommy John surgery

SAN DIEGO -- Mets right-hander Jeremy Hefner is facing the possibility of season-ending Tommy John surgery, according to general manager Sandy Alderson. Hefner is scheduled for a third examination on his right elbow Monday, after undergoing two exams last week.

"That is a possibility, yeah," Alderson said of surgery. "I don't know how serious a possibility, but we have not been able to rule that out at this point."

An examination earlier this week revealed that Hefner has a partially torn MCL in his right elbow, which the Mets initially indicated would require nothing more than rest and rehab. Though Tommy John surgery is more generally associated with UCL tears, Hefner could have his MCL replaced in a similar procedure.

The right-hander is 4-8 this season with a 4.34 ERA in 23 starts and one relief appearance. He posted a 1.76 ERA in his final eight starts before the All-Star break, but a 9.13 mark in five starts after it.