New York Mets pitcher Austin Warren left Tuesday’s game against the Kansas City Royals with forearm tightness, raising concerns about a potential elbow injury that could require Tommy John surgery. Warren described his level of worry as "definitely a 10," emphasizing the importance of his elbow to his pitching career.

Warren, 30, who previously underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023, said this injury feels different from his last, though he hopes it is only inflammation caused by recent heavy pitching workload. "I’ve had Tommy John before, obviously I don’t want to have it again," Warren said. "I hope it’s not serious, hopefully it’s just some inflammation from throwing a lot lately."

The right-hander entered the game in the fifth inning but struggled, allowing four hits and five runs before being replaced by reliever Huascar Brazobán without recording an out. Warren promptly reported the forearm discomfort to the medical staff and underwent MRI scans the following morning.

The Mets placed Warren on the 15-day injured list shortly after, with interim manager Andy Green acknowledging the situation’s difficulty for the pitcher. "It’s a stressful time for him, but hopefully we’ll get a better idea of the path forward soon," Green said.

Warren has been a valuable contributor for the Mets this season, appearing in 26 games with a 1-3 record and a 4.63 earned run average (ERA). Notably, he posted a strong 1.15 ERA over 11 appearances in May, demonstrating his capability when healthy. Green praised Warren’s impact on the team despite Tuesday’s rough outing. "He has been so good for us in so many different ways, and I know the outing yesterday left a really tough taste in his mouth," Green said.

Warren acknowledged his performance against the Royals was affected after the forearm issue began but noted he did not pitch poorly overall that day. He also mentioned having pitched through worse sensations earlier in the season without corresponding negative results.

To compensate for Warren’s absence, the Mets have recalled right-handers Tobias Myers and Xzavion Curry to the active roster. Myers, who was optioned to Triple-A just over a week ago following a challenging stretch where he allowed 14 runs over roughly nine innings, has been advised to improve his ability to finish at-bats. Green highlighted Myers’s strengths, noting that he "fills up a strike zone" effectively, indicating potential for future contribution.

The Mets will await further diagnostic information on Warren’s elbow to determine the appropriate treatment and timeline for his rehabilitation.