Mets Rehab Updates: Megill, Guillorme Getting Close

One key for the Mets, as they head deeper into September, will be the players they get back from the injured list contributing in key roles. The Mets hope the bullpen will get a boost from several players and that the infield depth will improve with the return of Luis Guillorme.

Let’s take a look at what stage a few of the injured Mets are at in their rehab assignments.

Tylor Megill

The right-hander started his rehab assignment on Sept. 1 with Double-A Binghamton. He faced three hitters and struck them all out on 19 pitches. His next appearance came three days later, with three more hitters and three more strikeouts for Megill.

Megill had his rehab assignment moved to Triple-A Syracuse for his third outing on Wednesday. Another perfect inning for Megill, this time with one strikeout. He has been up to 97 mph in his appearances.

While Megill has been exclusively a starter in the big leagues, the Mets felt he would be better served as a reliever down the stretch, a role he pitched in as a minor leaguer. Megill has been on the injured list since mid-June with a shoulder strain. The former eighth rounder has a 5.01 ERA, 3.60 FIP, and 47 strikeouts in 41 1/3 innings this season for the Mets.

Mets manager Buck Showalter indicated that they would like to see Megill throw a multi-inning outing or go back-to-back days before they added him to the major league roster.

Luis Guillorme

The Mets currently have Deven Marrero as the backup infielder on the big league roster due to the injuries to Guillorme and Brett Baty and that handcuffs Buck in his options. Guillorme began his rehab assignment on Tuesday when he went 1-for-4 as the DH for Triple-A Syracuse. After getting the day off on Wednesday, he was back in action on Thursday. He went 1-for-3 and played six innings defensively at third base.

Guillorme has been a key piece of the Mets bench this season filling in second base (54 games), third base (22 games), and shortstop (11 games). The 27-year-old is hitting .283/.355/.357 and has a career-high 1.5 bWAR in 86 games this season.

The bearded magician has been on the injured list since mid-August with a groin strain.

Joey Lucchesi

The last time Lucchesi pitched on a big league mound was on June 18 of last year when he tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings against the Nationals. That was the fourth straight start for Lucchesi of not allowing more than one earned run. The churve master went just over 14 months without throwing a competitive pitch following Tommy John surgery.

Lucchesi’s rehab started on August 21 with the Low-A St. Lucie Mets with one inning of work. He would follow with two more one-inning outings over the next 10 days. Then on Sept. 3, Lucchesi went two innings for the first time in his rehab and retired all six batters he faced. He didn’t allow an earned run over five innings with St. Lucie before having his rehab moved to Double-A Binghamton.

The 29-year-olds first appearance with Binghamton on Wednesday wasn’t as easy, he allowed four runs (two earned) in one-plus inning of work. Lucchesi had a throwing error that led to a sac fly in his first inning of work and another throwing error that cost him in his attempted second inning. The two runners he left on base in the second inning of work came around to score off his replacement.

Drew Smith

The right-handed reliever is scheduled to start his rehab assignment on Saturday. Smith has been out since July with a right lat strain. Before the injury, Smith was a key piece of the Mets pen with a 3.51 ERA in 37 appearances this season.