Credit: Anthony DiComo, MLB.com
The New York Mets added a lot of fresh faces to camp this year, as adding pitching depth was paramount this offseason. Each spring training game introduces us to more new Mets, who are all competing to break camp with the club.
Today Jerad Eickhoff took the mound to start and things did not go well for the 30-year-old veteran. Eickhoff was spotted a three-run lead in the top of first inning, with J.D. Davis, Luis Guillorme and Tomas Nido all collecting RBI hits.
Eickhoff allowed a leadoff single to second baseman Tommy Edman, before getting Mets killer Paul DeJong to ground out to Davis at third. Then the newest star Cardinal came up to the plate, as Nolan Arenado started the game for St. Louis. Arenado laced a sharp single into right field, driving in Edman.
From there, Eickhoff was able to escape further damage in the first inning, striking out the next two batters. In the second inning, the right-hander made his big mistake to first baseman John Nogowski, grooving a fastball right down Broadway that he crushed for a three-run homer.
All told, Eickhoff pitched two innings and allowed four runs off four hits and a walk. After the game, Eickhoff did not seem to fazed, as he said you always take your first results in spring with a grain of salt, whether they are good or bad.
Eickhoff signed with the New York Mets in late December on a minor league deal, with the idea that he would compete for a spot in the starting rotation. After all of the additions the Mets have made, it will be a tall task to win a spot in the rotation outright, but he represents solid depth for New York this season.
On the positive side, after dealing with injuries over the last couple of years, Eickhoff told the media he is feeling better now than he has since 2017, when he made 24 starts for the Philadelphia Phillies. His best year came the season prior, when he pitched to a 3.65 ERA in his first full big league season across 33 starts.
When Eickhoff exited the game, the Mets were still holding a 5-4 lead, but that soon evaporated in the bottom of the third. Jacob Barnes came on to pitch for the first time this spring and he ran into some problems with his control from the offset.
Arenado worked a full count against Barnes to start the frame and ultimately took a walk. Barnes then hit Dylan Carlson with a pitch, putting two runners on. Barnes was able to induce a fly out, but allowed three consecutive hits after that, bringing three Cardinals around to score.
Part of the 40-man roster, Barnes is one of the main arms competing for one of the last spots in the Mets bullpen, so this was clearly not a great start for the right-hander. He made it through the inning, but only after giving up three runs on three hits and two walks. He did not strike out a batter.
With 21 games left on the spring training calendar, Barnes and Eickhoff are going to have to quickly turn things around if they want to make the Opening Day roster.
