Mets’ Walker to have back surgery, miss rest of year

New York Mets second baseman Neil Walker will miss the rest of the season because of surgery for a herniated disk in his back, the latest in a series of severe injuries to strike the defending National League champions.

Minus Walker, the Mets will use Wilmer Flores and Kelly Johnson at second base in their push for a playoff spot.

Walker tied a career high with 23 home runs while batting .282 with 55 RBIs in his first season with the Mets, and manager Terry Collins often has praised Walker for his leadership qualities.

The switch hitter, who turns 31 this month, said the success rate for his type of surgery is “very high” and that the recovery period is three months.

No date has been set for the surgery.

Walker joined third baseman David Wright, first baseman Lucas Duda, ace Matt Harvey and BASEBALL NOTES other Mets to be struck by significant injuries this year.

Slugger Yoenis Cespedes, shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and several of the club’s young pitchers also have missed time.

ANGELS — Center fielder Mike Trout was not hurt after being involved in a car crash Wednesday.

The Orange County Register reported Trout, 25, was in one of four vehicles involved in two connected crashes on the 55 freeway in Santa Ana, California, shortly before 9 p.m.

Angels general manager Billy Eppler confirmed the report and said in a statement he’s spoken to Trout, and “he feels fine.”

Trout is batting .319 with 25 homers and 21 stolen bases this season.

CUBS — The team expects starter John Lackey to return from a right shoulder strain this weekend.

Lackey — 9-7 with a 3.41 ERA — threw on Thursday. The team says the session went well, and, assuming no setbacks, the veteran will start Sunday against San Francisco.

Reliever Hector Rondon (right triceps strain) will begin a rehabilitation assignment Saturday with Triple-A Iowa.

Reliever Pedro Strop (torn meniscus in left knee) tweaked his right groin in a workout Wednesday and is expected to miss about six weeks.

Chicago activated outfielder Chris Coghlan (ribs) and righthander Joe Smith (hamstring) from the disabled list and called up right-hander Jake Buchanan from Iowa.

BRAVES — Atlanta reinstated right-handed reliever Chris Withrow (elbow inflammation) and catcher A.J. Pierzynski (hamstring strain) from the 15-day disabled list and called up lefthander Jed Bradley from Triple-A Gwinnett.