Seth Lugo's troublesome elbow appears to be worse than initially feared, as the New York Mets pitcher reportedly has a slight tear in his ulnar collateral ligament, the Mets announced Tuesday, according to Laura Albanese of Newsday.

Despite the newly discovered tear - which may have already existed last season, a source told MLB.com's Anthony DiComo - Lugo apparently doesn't need surgery for the setback at the moment, instead relying on a platelet-rich plasma injection and rest to recover. The Mets, however, do note surgical repair is still a possibility depending on the injection and ensuing recovery period.

Though Lugo doesn't appear to require surgery for now, a source told FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal that esteemed Tommy John surgeon Dr. James Andrews was the one reviewing the 27-year-old's medical records.

The Mets initially announced Monday that Lugo was headed for a second opinion after complaining of discomfort in his throwing elbow following the World Baseball Classic, where he pitched a team-high 15 innings for Puerto Rico.

Lugo, who made eight starts last season for the Mets, was expected to again serve as a swingman in 2017. He posted a 2.67 ERA across 17 appearances in his debut campaign.