Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports

Tommy Hunter is, arguably, already a Mets Legend.

 

I’ve come around the Universal DH, but memories like that warm my National League heart.

The 36-year old righty was drafted by the Rays back in 2005, made his debut in 2008 and has traveled all over. He’s played for the Rangers, Orioles, Cubs, Guardians, Orioles (again), Rays, Phillies, and for the last two seasons, the New York Mets. Hunter was mostly used as a starting pitcher until 2013. The Orioles then shifted him to the bullpen for 68 games (still his career high) over 86 1/3 innings.

From 2013 on Hunter has pitched in 396 games making only one start with a 3.14 ERA, 3.46 FIP and a 1.110 WHIP. When healthy, he has the capability of pitching in 60 or more games, but he has only done that four times since 2013, the most recent time being in 2018.

His time with the Mets has been memorable. In 2021,  Hunter pitched eight scoreless innings and collected his first major league hit during a stretch when the Mets were  falling apart health wise but still somehow winning ballgames. Hunter was later traded to Tampa Bay in the Rich Hill trade before re-signing with the Mets the next season. Last year, Hunter pitched 22 1/3 innings over 18 outings with a 2.42 ERA, 1.209 WHIP, 4.28 FIP and a 162 ERA+.

We know what we are getting with Tommy Hunter. He’s a veteran reliever who has been in the game for a while. The question for the Mets — is there space for Hunter on the big-league roster? The question in turn for for Hunter — is he willing to go to Syracuse in April if he doesn’t break with the team in spring?

Hunter is clearly in a position battle for the bullpen. My gut says that if he stays with the Mets, he ends up on the 40-man roster at some point and sees at least as much playing time as he did last year. If he has a tremendous spring, or if there’s an injury, we’ll see him sooner than later.