Griffin Canning plans on reaching out to NBA star after Achilles injury, sees positives to build off
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.There was a rash of Achilles injuries across the NBA during the postseason, and Mets pitcher Griffin Canning has a personal connection with a hoops star who has dealt with the surgery in recent years.NBA stars Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton all suffered the same season-ending injury during the playoffs that Canning sustained in the third inning of his start last Thursday against the Braves.“It sucks.
Obviously, I want to and wanted to be out there with the guys, but I just love baseball, so I think that’s probably the worst part, is I just don’t get to play for a while,” Canning said before Tuesday’s rainout at Citi Field in his first public comments since undergoing season-ending surgery on Friday.“I think I’ll be doing some research and reading up on all the basketball players and stuff that have had this so, yeah, figure out what to do.”Canning, who finished the season with a 7-3 record and a 3.77 ERA in 16 starts after signing with the Mets as a free agent from the Angels, said he hasn’t reached out yet to Klay Thompson.
The five-time NBA All-Star missed more than two full seasons after tearing his Achilles in 2020 while already recovering from an ACL injury.“I’m good friends with Trayce, so he kind of connected me with his brother,” Canning said.“So it’s pretty early in the stages of this.
Once I have some questions, I’m gonna reach out to Klay, for sure.”The 29-year-old Canning emerged as a bargain for the Mets after inking a one-year deal worth $4.25 million in the offseason, and this injury likely will cost him a bigger payday in free agency this winter.“I felt like I was just executing pitches and had a good understanding of what I wanted to do going out there,” Canning said.“Yeah, it sucks.
That last game, I felt like I took something from the [previous] game ...