NEW YORK -- Despite his status as one of Major League Baseball's top American-born pitchers, Mets starter Noah Syndergaard will not participate in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
"Noah feels his performance the past two years is, in large part, due to his offseason and spring workout routines," Syndergaard's agent, Ryan Hamill, said in a statement. "After consulting with the Mets, and given the injuries that plagued their rotation last year, and his role on the team moving forward, both Noah and the Mets feel it is important to stay in his established routine.
"It is a tremendous honor to be considered to play for Team USA and Noah does not take the prospect of playing in the WBC lightly. But he also feels strongly about his responsibility to the Mets, their fan base, and their quest to win a World Series."
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Syndergaard went 14-9 with a 2.60 ERA in 2016 -- his first full big league season -- and was selected for the All-Star Game, but did not participate due to arm fatigue. He threw 183 2/3 innings during the regular season, adding another seven in the National League Wild Card Game.
Mets doctors diagnosed Syndergaard with a bone spur in his elbow early in the season, but concluded that the injury was not significant enough to necessitate surgery.