Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

Noah Syndergaard made his long-promised return to Citi Field. Two years older and a torn UCL later, Thor brought his thunder back to Queens.

Syndergaard pitched just one inning Tuesday night and it was glorious. Now sitting at 96 miles per hour with his fastball Syndergaard went three up and three down. Ten pitches, nine strikes, two strikeouts, 730 days in the making.

Armed with just his fastball and changeup he made quick work of the Marlins.

His first batter, Miguel Rojas, struck out swinging on high 96 MPH cheddar.

Then he sent Jazz Chisholm packing with a down and away changeup.

He concluded his night getting Bryan De La Cruz to ground out to third base. His fastball sat at 96.1 MPH with his changeup at 89.7 MPH.

“Walking out of the dugout, hearing the fans, I almost shed a little tear,” Syndergaard said. “I’m not really an emotional guy but it definitely got to me.”

The arduous process of returning to the mound added to the emotion.

“It was definitely a crazy journey. It was kind of like Murphy’s law, anything that can happen will happen. I had my setback in May and then I got Covid as I was coming back again. Just seemed like things were up against me that I wasn’t going to make it back this year.”

But Syndergaard did make it back. And his 10 pitches might be his lone audition as he reaches free agency this winter.

Obviously, Mets fans know what Syndergaard is capable of when fully healthy. In his lone All-Star season in 2016, he went 14-9 with a 2.60 ERA in 30 starts. He had the lowest FIP in the league at 2.29. Still, that was five years ago.

In his last full season in 2019, Syndergaard had a 4.28 ERA in 32 starts and allowed 94 runs, the most of any pitcher that season. That season he still flashed brilliance despite his overall numbers not being kind. He had one start fewer than five innings and went seven or more 13 times, including a complete-game shutout of the Cincinnati Reds.

Syndergaard wants to return to the Mets. One way would be through a qualifying offer, a one-year deal around $20 million.

“I’m fairly confident that we’ll reach an agreement, and I’ll be pitching here next year,” Syndergaard said. “I’d love nothing more than that. New York has a special place in my heart and always will be.”

Syndergaard would be willing to accept the qualifying offer from the Mets.

“It’s something I’d be extremely grateful for and we’ll cross that bridge when we get there. It’s definitely something I’m hoping for,” he said.

The one-year deal would allow Syndergaard to rebuild his value in an attempt to sign something long-term during the 2022 offseason, whether that’s with the Mets or another team is purely speculation. Last year, the Mets retained Marcus Stroman by inking him to a one-year QO for $18 million.

The Mets dilemma comes with already having one of the higher payrolls in the league and Michael Conforto also eligible to receive the QO. Conforto is expected to pursue a long-term deal at 28-years-old but he and his agents might look for the QO to increase his value after a down 2021.

Syndergaard is repped by CAA Sports formerly ran by ex-GM Brodie Van Wagenen. Conforto is a client of Scott Boras.

Javier Baez would have been eligible for a QO but was traded midseason and is now unable to.

New York has a front office in limbo that will need to be figured out before signing anyone this winter. Stroman also indicated his desire to sign a long-term deal somewhere on Tuesday. He’s open to returning to the Mets but no discussions have started.

Syndergaard knows where he wants to pitch in 2022. If the Mets listen to his desires, Sept. 28, 2021, won’t be the last time you see Thor pitching in blue and orange.