The last time Mets right-handed reliever Drew Smith pitched in a game was on Sept. 29, 2018, when he tossed a scoreless inning against the Marlins at Citi Field. Later that year, he would undergo Tommy John Surgery.

That changed on Thursday night when he pitched in a Mets intrasquad game back at Citi Field.

Smith’s return to the mound started with a walk of Max Moroff. He then retired Amed Rosario on a fly ball for the first out of the inning.

Robinson Cano followed with a single, leaving Smith to face Yoenis Cespedes and Pete Alonso with two runners on base. A tough situation for any pitcher, even more so when it’s your first outing in about 22 months.

The 26-year-old responded by getting Cespedes to strike out looking on a fastball and Alonso swinging on a slider (should note that in the past Smith’s best breaking ball was a more traditional curve). Also noteworthy, was him attacking Alonso with a first pitch fastball and Pete swinging right through it. Anthony DiComo of MLB.com noted that Smith has been throwing mid-90s and above during Summer Camp.

Smith is on the 40-man roster and his chances of making the 30-man roster out of camp were certainly helped on Thursday night. Veteran right-handed relievers Jared Hughes and Brad Brach not being in camp yet seemingly gives his stock a big boost as well.

The Mets acquired Smith from the Rays back in 2017 when they dealt Lucas Duda to the Rays. He has a 1.99 ERA and 9.8 K/9 spanning four minor league seasons.

Smith – a third round pick in 2015 – had a 3.54 ERA in 28 innings for the Mets in 2018, his only big league action. He needed TJS following the season and missed the entire 2019 campaign.

One very impressive thing to note about the cross-body thrower, is that in 176 minor league innings he has allowed only five home runs. When the Mets acquired Smith, he had allowed only one minor league homer in his career – it was Pete (then Peter) Alonso.