The first pitch that Noah Syndergaard threw in Major League Baseball was 97 mph. His second pitch was 98 mph. His fifth pitch was 99 mph. From that first start in 2015, it was perhaps inevitable that this day would arrive. The human elbow isn't built to regularly throw baseballs at such velocity.

ESPN's Jeff Passan is reporting that the New York Mets pitcher will undergo Tommy John surgery on Thursday, the end diagnosis of the discomfort Syndergaard had experienced before the suspension of spring training earlier this month. That would put him out for the entire 2020 season with an optimistic timeline for a return next April and a conservative estimate more like 15 months out -- something like the All-Star break in 2021.

It's hard to evaluate the impact on the Mets for 2020, since we don't know when the season will start -- or even if we'll have a season. The Mets still do have five potential quality starters in two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman, Steven Matz, Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha. The issues there are that Porcello had a rough 2019 with a 5.52 ERA for the Red Sox and Wacha had a 4.76 ERA (and 5.61 FIP) for the Cardinals. They allowed a combined 57 home runs in 300 innings.

There also is little depth behind those five, with the next-in-line candidates including Corey Oswalt, Walker Lockett and Stephen Gonsalves. The Mets' upper-level pitching in the minors is probably about as weak as that of any franchise, with no projected impact starters.

Losing Syndergaard puts a lot of pressure on Stroman to step up as a strong No. 2 behind deGrom. In his 11 starts with the Mets last season, Stroman had a 3.77 ERA, although his walk rate increased from 2.5 per nine with the Blue Jays to 3.5 with the Mets. Like Porcello and Wacha, Stroman isn't a huge strikeout pitcher for this era (although Stroman did increase from 7.1 strikeouts per nine with Toronto to 9.1 with the Mets), so the Mets' defense -- which doesn't exactly project as a strength -- will have to perform better than it did in 2019.

Syndergaard has remained a frustrating enigma. After a terrific first full season in 2016, when he posted a 2.60 ERA and league-leading 2.29 FIP with a 29.3% strikeout rate, he has battled injuries and inconsistency. His injuries have included a torn lat that caused him to miss most of 2017, a strained finger and viral infection in 2018 and a strained hamstring in 2019. While he still managed a career-best 32 starts and 197⅓ innings in 2019, he also had a career-worst 4.28 ERA and led the National League in earned runs allowed, and his strikeout rate dipped to 24.5%.

Out of 130 pitchers with at least 100 innings, Syndergaard's strikeout rate ranked 39th -- good, but not reflective of his raw stuff. His biggest problem has always been that his fastball, despite the highest average velocity among starting pitchers last season, is more hittable than you would expect. Batters hit .275/.341/.440 against his four-seamer and .305/.361/.466 against his two-seamer. FanGraphs calculated a run value for all pitches and Gerrit Cole, who had the second-highest fastball velocity among starters, saved an estimated 37.1 runs above average with his fastball, best among those 130 pitchers with 100 innings. Syndergaard ranked 61st. This gets into why pitchers are obsessed with spin rate; Syndergaard's fastball ranked in the 24th percentile in spin rate, while Cole's ranked in the 96th percentile.

Still, one reason the Mets were going to be a popular pick heading into the season was the one-two punch of deGrom and Syndergaard, with the belief this would be the season Syndergaard matches deGrom to become a Cy Young contender. Mets fans are not only locked in their apartments and homes, but now they've lost some hope during the coronavirus shutdown, as well.

There's a bigger issue here, of course, related to the unending pursuit of velocity. Syndergaard joins Luis Severino and Chris Sale as Tommy John victims this spring. Flamethrowing Padres reliever Andres Munoz also underwent TJ surgery this week. In 2017, Severino had the highest average fastball velocity among starters. In 2018, Sale eased into his velocity but hit 100 mph that summer, and from June through Aug. 12, when he landed on the injured list, he threw 253 pitches of 97-plus mph while averaging 97.2 on his fastball.

You can go on down the list. Of the 25 hardest-throwing starting pitchers from 2018, 11 had or have since had TJ surgery. That doesn't include Shohei Ohtani (he didn't throw enough innings to qualify for my list), Lance McCullers Jr. (who just missed the top 25), Yu Darvish (who was not in the top 25), Michael Kopech (called up that year and lasted four starts before blowing out his elbow), Dinelson Lamet and other high-end velocity guys who have had the surgery, as well. It's a long list.

Of course, due to the miracles of modern surgery, many pitchers who have Tommy John surgery return as good as ever. Syndergaard only has to look in his own clubhouse for inspiration, as deGrom had the surgery as a minor leaguer in 2010.

You do wonder how the game will evolve over the next five years. Spin rate might be more important than just throwing hard. The percentage of fastballs continues to trend downward. Velocity will always be king, but it's not everything. Maybe Syndergaard would have been better off throwing 95 instead of 100, not that that would have guaranteed good health. Teams do a much better job than a generation ago in attempting to protect their pitchers, with starters making fewer starts and throwing fewer pitches per game than ever. In 2019, there were just 70 games in which a pitcher threw at least 115 pitches. In 2009, the tally was 316, and in 1999, it was 780.

Still, pitchers get hurt, and we've had three major stars now go down this spring. It makes you wonder: Who's next?

The Principality Stadium, Wales' national stadium, could be used to help authorities tackle coronavirus.

The Welsh Rugby Union [WRU] says it has approached the Welsh Assembly Government and the National Health Service about use of the facility.

The Cardiff stadium has served as a temporary hospital for use of St John and South Wales Ambulance Services.

Welsh Pro14 region Scarlets have also made their Parc y Scarlets rugby stadium in Llanelli available.

Leisure centres and other public buildings in Carmarthenshire are also to be turned into hospital wards to help health services cope with demand.

"We have approached the authorities and they're aware that our facilities will be made available if and when required," a WRU spokesperson said.

"We've worked alongside the authorities over many years at our events and they're familiar with the stadium.

"This is an incredibly fast moving and challenging time, the authorities were grateful for us getting in touch and we continue working together to monitor the situation."

The Welsh Rugby Union announced yesterday that chief executive Martyn Phillips will stay on in his role "for the foreseeable future".

The WRU say the coronavirus pandemic has "prompted a rethink" for Phillips.

Editor’s Note: With the outbreak of COVID-19 forcing racing around the globe to a sudden stop, SPEED SPORT is reaching out to members of the racing community to find out how the outbreak is impacting them, both as racers and in their daily lives. This story is part of that ongoing series.

CONCORD, N.C. — Part-time ARCA racer Willie Mullins and his wife, Dinah, are small business owners, and they are among those most concerned about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The husband and wife duo own Bugsy’s Auto, an auto repair business based in Fredericksburg, Va., that services mostly private clients, most notably a number of trash truck companies in the area.

“Our life is filled with a large amount of uncertainty,” Willie Mullins said. “We’re going through life trying to keep things as normal as we can keep it.”

As the viral outbreak continues to strangle the international economy, it’s people like the Mullins who worry about their ability to keep their business open and continue to pay their employees as local governments order non-essential businesses to shut down to prevent the spread of the virus.

“I don’t have the funds (to pay people) if we’re not putting out work,” Dinah Mullins said. “Other than Willie and I, we have three employees. So if work isn’t being produced, I don’t physically have money in the checking account to even write the checks.”

As it stands now Bugsy’s Auto falls into the category of an essential business, which means Bugsy’s Auto can remain open while other businesses — such as gyms, hair salons or furniture stores — are closing in states across the country as local governments issues shutdown orders.

However, it doesn’t take away the stress of not knowing what tomorrow will bring.

“The biggest thing I’m worried about is what’s going to happen on the other side of this,” Willie Mullins said. “When people can’t pay their trash bills, when companies don’t pay their trash bill. Will trash slow down? Possibly a little bit. I don’t want to say we’re recession proof, but I would like to say that we are on the upside of all the down that could happen.”

Away from the Bugsy’s Auto shop, the Mullins are also heavily involved in racing as the owners of Mullins Racing. If you’ve heard Willie Mullins’ name before, it’s because he’s competed in a number of ARCA Menards Series races in recent years, including finishing eighth at Daytona Int’l Speedway in February.

Racing is a hobby rather than a business for the Mullins, so the shutdown of racing across the country hasn’t affected them as much as it has others in the industry.

However, they are both very active in supporting weekly racing at their local track, Dominion Raceway in Thornburg, Va. It’s hard for both of them not to think about how the lack of racing will affect the track, those the track employs and those who spend their weekends at the track every season.

“It’s hurting everyone, but these tracks are literally being hit the hardest,” said Dinah Mullins, who helps with photography at Dominion Raceway in order to support the track. “I mean if you are in the entertainment business, if you’re in retail, if you’re in anything where it’s a mass of people, you’ve got nothing (work) for two months. So we’re doing everything we can to try to be supportive of our local track.

“Our fan base also needs to realize this. The years of track bashing absolutely has to stop. You might not be happy with your track, but they’re still there. This might close some tracks down,” she continued. “So once that ban is lifted, I want to see every fan that has any stake in racing at all … if you have any feelings toward racing, I want to see you in the stands this summer. It is so imperative that our fan base comes out and shows how strong they are and shows how important racing is to them because this is the time to prove your love of racing.”

Willie Mullins, who recently tested his ARCA Menards Series car at Dominion Raceway prior to the racing shutdown, added that local businesses, race tracks included, need support now more than ever.

“Make sure you support your local short track,” Willie Mullins said. “If you’ve never been a fan, go be a fan and go try it once because your local short track, unfortunately, could be closing because of what happened to this economy. Go support your local race team. That’s where racing gets its start, and that’s where it needs the most support right now.

“It goes back to shop locally, too. It’s the same concept,” he continued. “You can’t get Amazon to sponsor your kid’s baseball team, but you sure can get a local business to do it. So it’s all about the community right now and trying to support that and making sure you’re doing everything that you can to help support your local businesses and your friends and what they do.”

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – FOX Sports has committed to televising the full eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series season, starting March 29 at 1 p.m. ET live from the virtual Texas Motor Speedway.

Entitled FOX NASCAR iRacing, the races will be simulcast on the FOX broadcast network, FS1 and the FOX Sports app. Races will be available in Canada through FOX Sports Racing.

Last Sunday’s inaugural event, won by three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, drew 903,000 viewers on FS1, according to Nielsen Media Research.

FOX Sports iRacing was the most-watched telecast on FS1 since the pandemic-induced sports shutdown began on March 12 and Sunday’s most-watched sports telecast on cable television, as well as ranks as the highest-rated esports TV program in history.

Additionally, according to rankings by Twitter interactions, the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series on FS1 was the No. 1 most-social TV program overall on Sunday.

NASCAR-owned content related to the event produced more than one million engagements throughout the weekend.

“This rapid-fire collaboration between FOX Sports, NASCAR and iRacing obviously has resonated with race fans, gamers and television viewers across the country in a very positive way,” said Brad Zager, FOX Sports Executive Producer, EVP/Head of Production & Operations. “We have learned so much in a relatively short period of time, and we are excited to expand coverage of this brand-new NASCAR esports series to an even wider audience.”

The FOX NASCAR broadcast team of Jeff Gordon, Mike Joy and Larry McReynolds will continue to call the action from the FOX NASCAR studios in Charlotte, with NASCAR Cup Series driver Clint Bowyer providing “in-car” commentary.

“The response on social media to last Sunday’s race has been incredible,” Gordon said. “We were able to broadcast a virtual race that was exciting and entertaining. It brought a little bit of ‘normalcy’ back to the weekend, and I can’t wait to call the action Sunday at Texas.”

“We’re overwhelmed by the positive feedback and encouragement sent by industry stakeholders, drivers, partners, media and most importantly, our fans. We all can’t wait to get back to racing and our partners at iRacing and FOX have worked with us to do just that – race,” added Tim Clark, Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer for NASCAR. “We are committed to running these eNASCAR iRacing events as long as necessary. Providing a platform for our fans to watch and engage with their favorite drivers is our number one priority.”

SELINSGROVE, Pa – Due to the continued health concerns and regulations across the state and nation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting health crisis, Selinsgrove Speedway has canceled its March Mayhem sprint car and late model program slated for this Sunday.

Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolfe ordered the cessation of spectator sports in the commonwealth last Thursday.

“We certainly want to comply with the guidelines and rules that have been put forward in order to prevent the spread of this virus,” says speedway promoter Mike Heffner. “And it’s important that we be good stewards of this effort for everyone’s sake but of course we would also like to be racing.”

The speedway is currently evaluating the viability of its racing programs on a week-by-week basis and will get its season started as soon as possible.

“We hate to lose races but it’s a long season and we do have options we can look at as the season progresses that will still make 2020 an exciting and busy season at Selinsgrove Speedway,” Heffner said.

The speedway is slated to be in action on Saturday, April 4 with the URC 360 sprints in a Battle of the Groves Tune Up event along with action for limited late models and the A & A Auto Stores Roadrunners, at 6 p.m.

With the racing world paused amid the COVID-19 outbreak, SPEED SPORT is highlighting race tracks around the United States. This is part of that ongoing series.

Track of the Day: Kokomo Speedway
Address: 2455 North Davis Road, Kokomo, IN 46901
Website: www.kokomospeedway.net

History: Kokomo Speedway has been in operation since 1947, when it was built by partners Albert Miller and John Rose. The track opened for the first time on July 6, 1947, with Ralph Purnell winning the first race.

Over the years the track has changed hands a few times, with promoter Bill Lipkey taking ownership in 1952. He owned the track for more than 40 years before handing it over to Kent Evans in 1994.

Evans remained in control of the track until the winter of 1999 and 2000, when Dick Bronson and Mark Owsley partnered to buy the track. Bronson sold his shares of the track to Owsley shortly thereafter due to health concerns.

Dave Duncan leased the track from Owsley from 2001 through ’02 before Owsley took the reins back. In 2004, Owsley sold the track to the O’Conner family, which continues to operate the track to this day.

The track has seen a number of top stars walk through the gates over the years, including the likes of A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Pancho Carter, Parnelli Jones, Steve Kinser, Jack Hewitt and Rich Vogler to name a few.

The track’s weekly racing lineup is spearheaded by the non-winged 410 sprint car class. Among those who have claimed track titles at Kokomo are Bob Kinser, Kelly Kinser, Randy Kinser, Tony Elliott, Dave Darland, Jon Stanbrough, Cole Whitt, Bryan Clauson and, most recently, Justin Grant.

The three-eighths-mile dirt track is one of the top dirt tracks in the Midwest and annually plays host to a bevy of USAC National events, including the Kokomo Grand Prix for the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Series and the Sprint Car Smackdown for the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series. The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions are also regular visitors.

The track also hosts a number of major events for weekly racers, including the King of Kokomo, the Kokomo Klash and the Bob Darland Memorial.

BELLEVILLE, Ill. – POWRi officials have announced the cancellation of two upcoming events due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation.

The POWRi Lucas Oil WAR Sprint League race scheduled for April 11 at Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Mo., and the POWRi Lucas Oil West Midget League race scheduled for I-44 Riverside Speedway, also slated for April 11, have both been canceled.

“As part of our commitment to keeping you informed, we will send out updates on the upcoming races two weeks prior to scheduled events,” POWRi officials said in a statement. “All of POWRi’s events bring national travel and our concern is the risk posed to our fanbase, race teams, and staff. The health and safety of all POWRi event attendees is our priority and this measure has been taken so that everyone can follow the recommended guidelines as advised by government officials.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those who have been affected by this pandemic.”

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Carolina Hurricanes have agreed to entry-level contracts with brothers David and Jason Cotton.

The team announced deals Tuesday with the forwards, who closed college careers this season.

David Cotton, 22, has a two-year contract paying $700,000 in 2020-21 and $832,500 in 2021-22 at the NHL level. The deal will pay $70,000 at the American Hockey League level in both seasons. There's also a $185,000 signing bonus. Carolina selected him in the sixth round of the 2015 draft, but he went on to play four seasons at Boston College.

Jason Cotton, 25, received a one-year contract that will pay $700,000 at the NHL level and $50,000 at the AHL level next season. There's also a $25,000 signing bonus. He had started his college career at Northeastern before spending three years at Sacred Heart.

Her dream couldn’t be contained at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro four years ago.

Aditi Ashok, India’s teen wunderkind, was the talk of her sport, unexpectedly soaring into a share of the lead during the second round of the women’s golf competition.

Today, her dream of returning to the Summer Games is officially locked down.

India prime minster Narendra Modi went on national television Tuesday to impose strong, new restrictions on the nation’s 1.3 billion residents in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus.

“There will be a total ban on venturing out of your homes,” he said. “The entire country will be in lockdown, total lockdown.”

The news came shortly before the International Olympic Committee and the government of Japan announced that the Summer Games in Tokyo will be postponed.

It was a long day for Ashok.

“It’s disappointing to have to wait another year to represent India at the Tokyo Olympics . . . but I’m glad the decision has been made,” Ashok informed GolfChannel.com in an online chat. “It was only a matter of time as health and safety is always the most important thing, and it’s better to err on the side of caution. Hopefully, when we do compete, we can think of performing at the highest level and not worry about COVID-19. I will keep preparing at home and working hard.”

Ashok, 21, will be challenged to do that as she waits for the virus to run its course and the LPGA to return to action. She is going to go a month or so without stepping on a golf course. The two golf courses where she practices in Bangalore have been closed for a week. The lockdown will extend for the next 21 days.

“Even the gym is closed, so I have to work out at home, which is still way easier than trying to practice at home,” she said.

And, yes, Ashok will be trying to work on her game at home.

“I have actually ordered some nets and bays [and] stuff,” she said. “I hope I can fit it on my terrace and get some reps in.”

The lockdown only permits venturing out for necessities, like groceries and medical supplies or treatment.

Ashok is currently No. 38 in the Olympic Women’s Golf Rankings. The top 60 will qualify for the Tokyo Games, whenever that ends up being rescheduled.

With nine LPGA events cancelled or postponed so far, uncertainty hangs over every tour pro. The next LPGA tournament on the schedule is the Pelican Women’s Championship May 14-17. There will be challenges getting ready with nobody sure when they really need to be ready.

“Trying to take it one week at a time, stay healthy and keep a routine each day,” Ashok said. “It is hard not being able to go out and play a few holes or hit balls because that has been part of my life since the age of 6.”

For now, Ashok is making the most of time with her parents, Gudlamani and Mash.

“Been playing Rummy with mom and dad,” she said.

Dad’s the player to beat in that game.

“But not by much,” she said.

Ashok has already re-read the entire Harry Potter series and completed a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle of a lighthouse on a cliff above a seashore. She has even more time to fill than she expected these next three weeks as the family’s television stopped working.

“We cannot go out and buy a new one because of the lockdown,” she said.

Ashok is counting her blessings, as the coronavirus hasn’t spread as rampantly in India as it has in other countries, though CNN reported it is unclear how much testing reflects the real rate of infection there. On Tuesday, India reported there were 519 confirmed cases of the virus in India, with 10 deaths.

Ashok is hopeful the proactive steps taken will help minimize the virus in her homeland and everywhere else, and that the LPGA and the rest of world will soon return to healthier times.

When it comes to coronavirus pandemic social distancing, it appears a couple players on mini-tours have it figured out.

Just five days after Jared du Toit fired a 59 at the Outlaw Tour’s Western Skies Classic at Western Skies Golf Club in Gilbert, Arizona, another mini-tour player has joined the party (but kept his social distance – six feet, people).

Sunny Kim, a former Korn Ferry Tour member, fired a first-round 71 and found himself nine (!) back on Day 2 at The Fox Club in Palm City, Florida. But five birdies on the front nine got him moving up the leaderboard quickly, and the birdie train didn't stop at the turn. Instead, the momentum carried on, as Kim added three more on Nos. 10, 12 and 13.

But the closing holes were especially good to Kim, who carded an eagle at the par-4 16th, and again at the par-5 closing hole for a bogey-free, 12-under 59, good enough to erase his 9-shot deficit and take home the title, his 67th Minor League Golf win.

Chase Koepka was also in the field, finishing T-10 after rounds of 69-71.