Jose Quintana Hopeful he can Return to New York Mets This Season

Mets pitcher Jose Quintana has rejoined the team and is in good spirits after a scary injury earlier in the offseason.

Quintana underwent bone graft surgery due to a rib fracture, which he suffered during a spring start.

The initial scan showed a lesion on his rib, which required a biopsy. Fortunately, the lesion test came back benign, which Quintana described as a major scare.

“After we got the news that it was something that was weak with my bone, that’s when I felt a little scared because it was more about life," Quintana said. "As soon as we found that and after surgery I took some time. I am healthy and now I feel way better and I’m starting to start my process getting back to baseball.”

There is no timeline for Quintana's return, but he is hopeful that he can return to the Mets this season.

“This week I start moving and doing workouts, and we’ll take it just one step at a time," he said. "The good thing is I feel better and I’m starting. So I don’t know when I’m gonna be back, but for sure it’s gonna be one day close.”

Quintana made 32 starts and posted a 2.93 ERA last season for the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Mets signed Quintana to a two-year, $26 million deal in the offseason. Unfortunately he will be sidelined for quite sometime after surgery.