The New York Mets have hit a speed bump in their plans to welcome back left-handed reliever A.J. Minter, pulling him off his rehab assignment Wednesday after he reported left hip discomfort before Triple-A Syracuse's game against the Rochester Red Wings.

Minter, who has been working his way back from lat surgery, was scheduled to pitch in Wednesday's contest as part of a back-to-back appearance plan—the final hurdle before rejoining the big league club. Now, that momentum has been temporarily stalled.

"We're not too concerned, but probably giving him a couple, few days there and then he'll continue to throw," manager Carlos Mendoza said. "But as of right now we pulled him off."

The hip discomfort is on the same side as the torn labrum Minter had surgically repaired in August 2024, but neither the pitcher nor the organization appears overly alarmed about the severity of the setback. Still, the clock on his rehab assignment has effectively restarted, meaning this could delay his return by several days.

Minter hasn't pitched for the Mets since April 2025, when a lat strain cut his season short and required surgery. During his rehab assignment across three minor league levels, he has been dominant, posting a 1.17 ERA. However, a recent downtick in velocity—dipping to 91 mph on some pitches—raised questions about whether the hip discomfort might be a factor.

"I don't know because there were days where we saw the velo at 92, 93, couple of 94," Mendoza said. "But there were some ones where it was like 91. But I don't know I would have to talk to him personally."

For Mets fans and fantasy baseball managers alike, this is a frustrating but familiar story: a key bullpen arm on the verge of returning, only to face another minor hurdle. With Minter's track record as a reliable lefty specialist, the team will proceed cautiously. Expect a few days of rest and evaluation before he resumes throwing—and hopefully, a return to Queens in the near future.