Stephen Nogosek. Photo by Ed Delany

In an afternoon that was already spiraling out of control, the Mets got some much needed outs from the bullpen, and more specifically, from Stephen Nogosek. The 28-year-old reliever was called upon to replace a struggling Carlos Carrasco during the fifth inning of Sunday’s game against the Miami Marlins. Already down 6 runs, Nogosek performed admirably, recording 10 outs and throwing 52 pitches, only giving up one run and one walk in 3 1/3 innings. In addition while striking out five, Nogosek was able to stop the bleeding and got through the most of the game and posted a 1.69 ERA to finish off his afternoon. Topping out at 94 mph, Nogosek had great command of his pitches, keeping the Marlins’ bats quiet after an early raucous onslaught against Carrasco.

Despite being a relatively unknown reliever, Nogosek has shown, in spurts, that he has what it takes to be a successful big-league pitcher. Initially drafted in 2016 by the Boston Red Sox, Nogosek was dealt to the Mets, along with a few other prospects, in the Addison Reed trade. After becoming a free agent at the end of 2021,  Nogosek decided to re-sign with the Mets. However, the circumstances leading up to his decision were not ideal, as he had struggled to perform well during the 2021 minor league season. In a market with limited job opportunities, returning to the Mets seemed like the best option for Nogosek.

Thankfully, Nogosek was able to turn his fortunes around and pitch exceptionally well in Triple-A last year. He recorded a 2-0 record and an impressive 2.30 ERA over 43 innings of work, demonstrating his ability to excel at the minor league level. But Nogosek’s talents didn’t just stop there, as he was also able to make a positive impact at the major league level. In 12 appearances for the Mets last season,  he tossed 22 innings, earning a 1-1 record and an impressive 2.45 ERA.

The Mets have taken notice of Nogosek’s abilities and have decided to utilize him as a long man once again this season, as he made the club out of camp. By using him in this role, the team can afford to keep pitchers like David Peterson and Tylor Megill stretched out as starters at Triple-A, rather than using them for shorter stints in the majors or using Nogosek as a backup option in case a starter goes down or has a rough day, which was the case yesterday. His strong performance against Miami on Sunday, along with his previous outing against the same Marlins on April 2nd, serves as a testament to his capabilities in this role, further reinforcing the team’s decision to use him as a long reliever.

Overall, Nogosek’s decision to re-sign with the Mets has paid off handsomely, as he has been able to prove his worth both in the minors and the majors. With his impressive performances against Miami twice this season, he is beginning to put himself out there as a reliable option for the Mets, and the team hopes he can continue to play an important role in their bullpen moving forward.