Tommy Hunter Continues Strong Spring

The New York Mets are just a week away from opening day 2023 and an opening day in which will be missing a key pitcher in Edwin Diaz who was injured during the World Baseball Classic last week. But it’s “next man up” mentality for the Mets’ bullpen and Buck Showalter still has decisions to make for the last couple of spots. Jimmy Yacabonis, T.J. McFarland, Tommy Hunter, and Jeff Brigham all pitched on Wednesday as they look to finalize their bids for a roster spot.

Yacabonis struggled on Wednesday against the Astros, walking two and giving up two earned runs in just one inning pitched, but overall this spring he has looked good in relief. In seven games played, he has struck out eight and has an ERA of 2.57, with a WHIP of 0.86. He has allowed just four hits (two on Wednesday) and given up only the two runs he gave up on Wednesday as well.

McFarland’s spring started off good in his first outing, but his next two were shaky. In his second outing against Houston, he gave up three earned runs on three hits in one inning pitched. He struck out two in that game, but gave up two home runs.

In his next two appearances, McFarland gave up one earned run against Miami on two hits and struck out one in one inning pitched. His fourth appearance of the spring was against Washington, where he struggled the most, giving up two earned runs on three hits, with a walk and a strikeout.

Though his first four outings were rough, McFarland has since settled in toward the end of March. In his last three, including Wednesday against Houston, he has not given up an earned run and has allowed just two hits. He has two strikeouts across those three games and no walks.

In total, McFarland has a 6.75 ERA with seven strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.63 through seven games. The veteran McFarland’s fate is really tied to fellow lefty reliever Brooks Raley and whether or not Raley’s hamstring is ready to start the season.

Hunter, who threw two very strong innings on Wednesday against the Astros, has been impeccable this spring. In six games that he’s come in in relief, Hunter has a 0.00 ERA and nine strikeouts. He has a WHIP of 0.63. With spring training coming to a close and Opening Day around the corner, Hunter is making a case to be part of the roster.

Looking back at 2022, Hunter gave up just six earned runs on 21 hits in 22 1/3 innings pitched. He struck out 22 and had an ERA of 2.42. Hunter looks to have a inside track on one of the roster spots given his success this spring and over the last two seasons with the Mets.

Brigham, the right-handed reliever who the Mets got from the Marlins in a trade in November has the upper hand on the previously mentioned relievers because he’s the only of the group on the 40-man roster.

Brigham has given up three earned runs on four hits in 7 2/3 innings pitched this spring for an ERA of 3.52. Brigham has used his impressive slider to help produce 10 strikeouts in that span.

The Mets bullpen has three locks for the Opening Day roster in righties David Robertson, Adam Ottavino, and Drew Smith, and Raley will be there as well if he’s healthy enough to go. Stephen Ridings, Sam Coonrod, and Bryce Montes de Oca will all start the season on the injured list. That leaves the four arms that pitched on Wednesday to compete with John Curtiss, Elieser Hernandez (Mets might keep him stretched out as a starter), recently claimed Dennis Santana, Stephen Nogosek (out of options), and Zach Muckenhirn battling for the last couple of bullpen spots.