Tauchman was diagnosed Sunday with a torn meniscus in his left knee and will require surgery, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
The Mets haven't announced whether Tauchman will require a trim or a full meniscus repair, but either way, the veteran outfielder will likely miss at least the first month of the season. The 35-year-old appeared to have a strong chance at breaking camp with the big club as a fourth outfielder after posting an .819 OPS over 35 plate appearances in the Grapefruit League. Once he's fully recovered from surgery, Tauchman is expected to head to Triple-A Syracuse, and he could factor into New York's outfield plans this summer if rookie Carson Benge struggles as the team's everyday right fielder.