David Peterson expected to miss start of season following hip surgery.

Mets left-handed pitcher David Peterson underwent surgery to repair the labrum in his left hip, the team announced on Wednesday.

Per the Mets, “a typical return to play” for the type of procedure Peterson had is six-to-seven months.

Peterson, who had a solid finish to the 2023 season after an uneven start that resulted in him being demoted to Triple-A Syracuse, was expected to be a valuable part of New York’s rotation depth entering 2024, but his ability to contribute will now be delayed.

A six-month timeline would mean a return around the second week of May, while a seven-month timeline would mean Peterson not being back on a big league mound until after Memorial Day.

President of baseball operations David Stearns said on Tuesday that starting pitching would be among his top priorities this offseason, with the team expected to add two or three starters from outside the organization.

However, Stearns left open the possibility that the final spot in the rotation  whether it’s a five-or six-man rotation  could be decided by an internal competition in spring training.

With Peterson out, a potential internal battle for the final spot in the rotation could include Joey Lucchesi, Jose Butto, and perhaps Mike Vasil — who has not yet made his big league debut.

As far as Tylor Megill, he could perhaps be better suited for a relief role.