Jose Quintana’s Rib Injury Led to a “Cancer Scare,” But Thankfully the Biopsy Was Negative

March 14, 2023, by Brett Taylor Chicago Cubs

We knew that old friend Jose Quintana was going to miss some time at the start of his season with the Mets because of a rib injury, but we didn’t quite know what he was dealing with.

The update today reveals how scary it must have been for Quintana, who was actually being tested for cancer due to a lesion that was discovered while evaluating a stress fracture:

Eppler: Jose Quintana had a cancer scare because of a lesion that was found when he suffered a stress fracture in a rib while pitching on March 5. Biopsy was negative and the Mets LHP will have surgery that includes a bone graft. He won’t return before July.
— Anthony Rieber (@AnthonyRieber) March 14, 2023

More on José Quintana's situation and where the Mets go from here:https://t.co/Ss668OK26u
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) March 14, 2023

Obviously it’s bad news for Quintana and the Mets that he’ll be out for at least half of the season, but the alternative sounds much, much worse.

The bone graft surgery, though, is a pretty serious thing in its own right, so the return timetable for Quintana is pretty up in the air. The Mets figure to replace him in the rotation with Tylor Megill or David Peterson. All the best to Quintana with his surgery and his recovery.

Filed to: Chicago Cubs