Rookie right-hander Noah Syndergaard spoke to reporters Sunday night at Citi Field and fielded questions from the media.
When did you learn you were starting Game 2?
He just called me into his office and asked how I was feeling after my relief appearance, and my body and my arm have never felt better. So that’s what I told him and I’m ready to go.
You were promoted after an injury to Dillon Gee and here you are in the final four. What’s it been like?
This year has been something else for me. It’s been pretty hard to comprehend as well. Just the sequence of events that have happened.
I went from last year to not getting called up, to a lot of people doubting me as a Big League pitcher that off-season. I came into Spring Training and I felt like I proved that I belonged there. I went to Vegas for a little bit, and it’s unfortunate that what led to my call-up was another injury to a fellow pitcher.
But as I look back at what happened this year, I feel like I’ve made a lot of strides and even grown as a better pitcher. So extremely blessed to be here.
What was Thursday night like for you, warming up four times and then doing what you did in the 7th inning?
Each time I got up, I got up about three different times, but I only threw seven to nine pitches each time. I didn’t mind it. I felt like I handled it well and got advice from some of the veteran guys down there. And I just was able to go into the game. My arm felt great.
I try not to pay too much attention to the role that I was playing then. I just went out there and pretended like I was starting the game all over again. Their leadoff hitter, I met Trav at the mound and he just reiterated we’re going to take one pitch at a time and execute one pitch at a time and go from there. I had a lot of success doing that.
A lot has been made about how your team wasn’t very successful against the Cubs, your debut came against that lineup. How much have you changed since that first appearance?
I feel like I’ve changed night and day, being able to work with Dan we made a lot of improvements and fine-tuned my mechanics, and implemented a secondary changeup grip, which has allowed huge strides for my career.
What do you remember about making your Major League debut against the Cubs? Are you a different pitcher now?
Yeah, I mean, my mechanics are completely different. I think my mentality out there is a lot different. I’ve been able to go out there with a lot more confidence in myself and getting myself out of certain situations by using necessarily uncomfortable pitches that I might have used at a different time.
I remember I fell behind a few batters. Still kind of was a lot to take in. I just feel like a completely different pitcher now and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.
