Former Mets Rick Reed and Turk Wendell were in attendance at Citi Field on Saturday, as part of the team’s renewed efforts to connect with their alumni as headed by longtime Mets executive Jay Horwitz.
Our own Rich Coutinho had a chance to go one on one with Turk Wendell before the game and the two chatted about Mike Piazza, the 2000 Mets, and the importance of the bullpen in current day baseball. Here is that interview:
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Wendell was a fifth-round pick of the Atlanta Braves out of Quinnipiac University in 1988. Atlanta traded him to the Chicago Cubs soon after, where he would make his big league debut in June of 1993.
Eventually, Chicago traded him to the Mets in August 1997, where he became an instant fan favorite. In five seasons with the Mets, the colorful, licorice-eating righthander would post a 3.34 ERA and 1.299 WHIP in 285 appearances, all in relief. He also pitched in two games for the Mets in the 2000 World Series.
