The New York Mets announced on Thursday they’ve signed lefty reliever Ryan O’Rourke to a minor league deal with an invitation to major league spring training.
O’Rourke, 30, missed the entire 2017 and much of the 2018 following Tommy John surgery. The lefty had a 1.26 ERA and 0.63 WHIP 14.1 innings across four levels in the minors for the Baltimore Orioles in 2018. During that span, he struck out 21 batters compared to just one walk.
The 13th round pick from 2010 has 47 innings of major league experience, including 25 innings with a 3.96 ERA in 2016 with the Minnesota Twins. Lefties have hit only .134/.244/.239 with 30 strikeouts in 80 plate appearances (67 at-bats) off him in the major leagues.
O’Rourke has handled left-handed hitters very well in his minor league career as well, holding them to .353 OPS in 2018, .518 OPS in 2016 and .586 OPS in 2015.
The Massachusetts native throws his fastball in the low 90’s and throws his slider more than 30% of the time. He also works in a changeup in the low 80’s.
The Mets only have one lefty reliever currently on the 40-man roster, Daniel Zamora.
