RHP Jeff Walters was designated for assignment on Tuesday. The transaction made room on the 40-man roster for 1B James Loney, who was activated by the Mets following his acquisition from the San Diego Padres on Saturday. Walters, 28, is 0-2 with a 9.27 ERA and one save in 23 relief appearances for Triple-A Las Vegas. This is his first full season back from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in June 2014. Walters, whom the Mets selected in the seventh round of the 2010 draft out of the University of Georgia, is 18-21 with a 3.90 ERA and 51 saves in 181 professional games.

Walters has pitched 17 innings since coming back from Tommy John surgery two months ago, allowing three runs on 12 hits and four walks while striking out 19.

Walters is pitching at Double-A Binghamton and could see Triple-A La Vegas before the end of the season. He may get a chance to earn a bullpen role next spring with the Mets.

Walters (elbow) made his first rehab appearance since Tommy John surgery on Monday, Adam Rubin of ESPN New York reports.

He pitched a scoreless inning for the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Mets. Walters was very effective as the closer for Double-A Binghamton in 2013, accumulating 38 saves with a 2.09 ERA, but struggled in 2014 before ultimately succumbing to Tommy John. At 27 years old, he's no prospect, but if he comes back strong from his rehab assignment, he might eventually get a shot at joining a Mets bullpen that's still looking for answers.

Walters (elbow) was outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday.

Walters struggled heavily in Triple-A last season, putting up an 8.86 ERA in 23 games. His season was cut short after he had Tommy John surgery in June, so he'll miss at least the first two or three months of 2015 as a result.

Mets pitching prospect Jeff Walters underwent Tommy John surgery Tuesday.

Walters, who was added to the 40-man roster over the winter, sustained a torn UCL earlier this month. The reliever will be sidelined until around midseason next year.

Jeff Walters has been diagnosed with a torn UCL.

That's the injury that pretty much always leads to Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery. Walters had a rough 8.86 ERA over his first 21 1/3 innings this season at Triple-A Las Vegas. The 26-year-old will likely be out of commission through the middle of 2015.