Mets reliever excited to be pitching again after Tommy John surgery scare

CHICAGO — Austin Warren thought his season was over last month and he was potentially headed to Tommy John surgery.That made his return to the mound for the Mets on Wednesday a moment he could appreciate.The right-hander proceeded to pitch a scoreless seventh inning against the Padres with two strikeouts.

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.“I didn’t like falling behind and being in a full count with every batter,” the reliever said Friday before the Mets’ 6-4 loss to the White Sox at Rate Field.

“But I will take the results.I am excited to be back with the guys and competing again.”Warren, who was among the team’s most effective relievers in the first half, prepared for the worst after alerting the team he was dealing with forearm discomfort in July.But an MRI exam indicated he didn’t need surgery.

Warren was shut down from throwing for six days and then began a gradual throwing progression that led to his return.“I probably should have said something earlier,” Warren said of the discomfort in his last few outings before his shutdown.“That’s just a boneheaded mistake on my side.

“But I am glad the results came back the way they did and it wasn’t worse.It could have been worse if I kept pitching through it.”He returned to a completely different bullpen than the one he departed, following the Aug.

3 trade deadline.“It was definitely different walking out to the pen the first night,” Warren said.“But I feel like everyone is stepping up and doing their job.

That is all we can ask for right now.”Bo Bichette started at DH and homered as interim manager Andy Green shuffles the spot following Jorge Polanco’s placement on the injured list and impending season-ending ankle surgery.“Given where we are without Polanco or a consistent DH, I think you will see that [spot] passed around a little bit more in order to refresh guys,�...