The Mets are throwing 29-year-old right-handed pitcher Justin Hagenman straight into the fire tonight, reinstating him from the 60-day injured list to start the rubber game against the Rays. Talk about a comeback! This move cleared a spot on the active roster, which means 26-year-old right-handed reliever Dylan Ross is heading back to Triple-A Syracuse. What a whirlwind for both guys.
Hagenman’s Long Road Back To The Mound
Think about what Hagenman has been through. He hasn’t pitched in a major league game since last September! Back in mid-March, a rib fracture sidelined him, putting him on the 60-day IL. That’s brutal. He only just started his minor league appearances on August 18, kicking things off with the Single-A St. Lucie Mets. From there, he got a game each with Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse. In those 9.1 innings across his rehab stint, he put up a super respectable 2.89 ERA. That’s solid, but can he translate it immediately to a high-pressure big league start? Tonight, we find out.
One Pitcher In, Another Out After A Quick Hook
While Hagenman is getting his chance, Dylan Ross got the shortest big league stint imaginable. This guy finally made his major league debut just last night, pitching in the Mets’ loss and throwing a totally scoreless inning. A scoreless inning in your debut! You’d think that earns you at least another day, right? But nope. Ross was actually called up last September too, but never got into a game, so last night was his true first taste. His minor league numbers this year, a 6.25 ERA and 5.61 FIP, probably didn’t help his case, but still, a scoreless inning then sent down? That’s rough, man. It shows you how tight these roster spots are.
So, Hagenman gets the ball tonight in a massive rubber game. The Mets are banking on his comeback, and after such a long time away, he’s got to bring that minor league fire to the big stage immediately. It’s going to be wild to watch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Amazin’ Avenue.
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