Longtime Mets reliever Pedro Feliciano has been with the Amazin’s for the majority of his major-league career, only taking a two-year, $8 million hiatus from Flushing courtesy of the New York Yankees. Even so, he’s never thrown a major league pitch for any team other than the Mets.
Perpetual Pedro is back in orange and blue once again this season, a theme the 37-year old Puerto Rico-native looks to continue for the remainder of his career.
“Hopefully,” said Feliciano when asked I asked him if he will return to the Mets in 2014. “Hopefully I can retire from here.”
Prior to this season, Feliciano last appeared in the majors with the Amazin’s back in 2010 when he broke his own franchise record for appearances in a season for the third straight year with 92. In 20 games this year, Feliciano is 0-2 with a 4.82 ERA.
Seeing his velocity dip into the low 80’s is not something Feliciano or the Mets hoped for, however he says he has made adjustments to counter the loss in miles per hour.
“Velocity is a little bit down, but I feel good,” said Feliciano when asked how he has felt coming back from his two-year recovery. “I just make my ball move more than before and just keep it down.”
Feliciano has 381.1 career innings pitched with a 3.35 ERA; all as a Met.
Thoughts from Joe D.
Nice job Clayton… I wouldn’t mind having Feliciano back next season. Even with his decreased velocity, he is still among the best lefty specialists in the game. He has held lefthanded batters to a .214/.233/.393 slash and he hasn’t issued a walk to any of them in 31 plate appearances. Now if we could only get Terry Collins to understand that he’s not a crossover reliever and should have no business facing righthanders.
