Familia undergoes successful sports hernia surgery

SAN FRANCISCO -- Mets reliever Jeurys Familia underwent successful surgery Friday to repair bilateral sports hernias, the team announced. Familia was already on his way home to the Dominican Republic at the time of the announcement.

The Mets' most consistent reliever over the course of the summer, Familia posted a 2.21 ERA in 76 appearances this year, striking out 73 batters over 77 1/3 innings. Those numbers could garner him some outside National League Rookie of the Year consideration.

Heading into next season, Familia should retain the eighth-inning setup role that he embraced this summer. But if former closer Bobby Parnell's Tommy John rehab takes longer than expected, Familia could also enter into the ninth-inning mix alongside Jenrry Mejia. The latter pitcher underwent a similar sports hernia procedure earlier this month.

Familia, Mejia, Parnell, Vic Black, Carlos Torres and Josh Edgin make up the core of a bullpen that does not figure to undergo much change this winter.