Good morning, Mets fans!

MLB teams are closely monitoring Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and this Saturday, at least two general managers or heads of baseball operations will be in attendance to watch him pitch for the Orix Buffaloes. Among those in the crowd will be Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer, an unidentified GM, and Yankees vice president Tim Naehring, who is highly regarded by GM Brian Cashman.

The Yankees have been actively scouting Yamamoto, with Cashman, Omar Minaya, and Matt Daley already visiting Japan for this purpose. The Mets have also shown interest, with GM Billy Eppler making a scouting trip. Interestingly, according to Andy Martino of SNY, it’s worth noting that Yamamoto will be represented by Joel Wolfe, the agent of Kodai Senga, who also represents Edwin Díaz, but Wolfe has declined to comment on Yamamoto.

Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports

Now onto the morning briefing!

Latest Mets News

Maybelle Blair, a former pitcher for the Peoria Redwings in the AAGPBL, received the inaugural Amazin’ Mets Foundation Legacy Award as well as throwing out the first pitch before Thursday’s Mets/Diamondbacks game. This award celebrates individuals and organizations making a positive impact in baseball, on and off the field. Blair, known for her inspiring coming-out moment at age 95 during the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival, is a tireless advocate for preserving the AAGPBL legacy and contributes to projects like “A League of Their Own” and the International Women’s Baseball Center.

Mets closer Edwin Díaz threw off the Citi Field mound. This is a significant step in his recovery as he slowly begins to ramp up for in-game action.

The New York Mets released a medical update regarding infielder Brett Baty. After undergoing imaging today, it was discovered that he has a mild left groin strain. As a result, his status is currently classified as day-to-day.

The Mets announced that they have acquired pitcher Anthony Kay via waivers from the Cubs and have optioned him to Triple-A Syracuse. Kay was initially drafted by the Mets in 2016 but was subsequently traded to the Blue Jays as part of the Marcus Stroman trade in July 2019.

Ryan Orr, the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, the Mets’ Double-A affiliate, has been honored as the MiLB Eastern League Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year.

Latest MLB News

The inaugural MiLB Awards Show is making its debut on MLB Network. In a partnership between Minor League Baseball and MLB Network, the show will shine a spotlight on the standout prospects, exceptional on-field achievements, and memorable moments of the 2023 season. Tune in for the live broadcast on October 2nd at 8 p.m. ET, with hosting duties helmed by the Emmy Award-winning MLB Network host and play-by-play announcer, Matt Vasgersian.

According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, Yankees prospect Jasson Dominguez is undergoing Tommy John surgery. Yankees manager Aaron Boone anticipates his return to the MLB to be around 9-10 months.

According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Boston Red Sox have parted ways with Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom. This decision comes after a tumultuous four seasons, which featured two last-place finishes and a 2023 season that appears destined to conclude without a playoff appearance.

The Baltimore Orioles have made several roster moves, including promoting outfielder Heston Kjerstad from Triple-A Norfolk, recalling right-handed pitcher Bryan Baker, and placing infielder/outfielder Terrin Vavra on the 60-day Injured List. They have also optioned outfielder Ryan McKenna and left-handed pitcher Nick Vespi to Norfolk.

Latest on MMO

We dive into the five Mets prospects named on Baseball America’s top 100 prospects list.

Senga dominates as Mets blow out Diamondbacks 11-1 to take series finale.

On This Date in Mets History

1969: In a season filled with incredible moments for the Mets, the game they played on September 15, 1969, remains a puzzling anomaly. Matched against Steve Carlton of the Cardinals, the Mets struck out a staggering 19 times, setting a nine-inning game record at the time. Despite this, they managed to hand Lefty a 4-3 loss, thanks to two two-run homers by Ron Swoboda. “It was the best stuff I ever had,” Carlton told reporters after the game, though Joseph Durso of the New York Times described the way Carlton spoke as that of “a sculptor who has just created a masterpiece and then accidentally chipped it.”

Birthdays: Jason Hardtke (52), Doug Simons (57), Satoru Komiyama (58), John Christensen (63), John Pacella (67)