Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports
The Mets are set to call up right-handed reliever Tommy Hunter according to MMO’s own Mike Mayer. Hunter returned to the Mets organization in April when he signed a minor league deal with the team.
On the year in Triple-A with Syracuse, Hunter has a 4.61 ERA with 14 strikeouts, one walk, and has allowed seven earned runs across eight games in 13 2/3 innings. He’s been better in his last five appearances, allowing only one run and striking out 11 in 8 2/3 innings.
In 2021 for the Mets, Hunter appeared in four games across eight innings of work with six strikeouts while allowing just four hits and no runs while pitching to a 0.87 WHIP. The veteran Hunter had his highlight of the season come on May 18 when he picked up his first big league hit. Hunter was traded to the Rays with Mets prospect Matthew Dyer for Rich Hill in July.
Hunter’s pitched for seven major league teams across his 14-year career and owns a 4.04 ERA for his career, but since 2016 the righty has a 3.10 ERA in 192 games with a 1.11 WHIP.
Hunter is not on the 40-man roster, so the Mets will have to make a move before adding him to the roster. Right-hander Jake Reed is a DFA candidate after allowing five runs and only getting two outs on Wednesday night in the Mets 10-2 loss to the Brewers.
With question marks still surrounding the Mets’ bullpen after Edwin Díaz and Drew Smith, hopefully, Hunter will be able to give the Mets another consistent arm out of the pen.
