Phil Regan went from a mostly unknown minor league pitching coordinator to a beloved pitching coach for the New York Mets in a very short span.
Regan, only 82 and former teammate of Sandy Koufax, was seen as a key contributor to a Mets’ staff ERA that went from 4.88 in the first half all the way down to 3.48 in the second half.
The former right-handed big league pitcher was named the Mets interim pitching coach in late June to replace Dave Eiland. Former Mets pitcher Jeremy Hefner, Univserity of Michigan pitching coach Chris Fetter, and Brewers’ bullpen coach Steve Karsay are the known candidates to take over as Mets pitching coach. So far, there’s been very little talk about Regan taking the position full-time.
So what is the Vulture doing in the offseason?
He’s back down in the Dominican Republic as the pitching coach of the Toros del Este. On his pitching staff he has three familiar faces in relievers Tyler Bashlor, Daniel Zamora, and Chris Mazza. All three saw major league time in 2019 and are currently on the 40-man roster.
Winter league action is not a new thing for Regan, he managed in Venezuela for 20 years and has managed in the Dominican as well.
Bashlor made his debut on Monday night with two strikeouts in a scoreless inning. Mazza has thrown three scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Zamora has yet to pitch.
Also on the pitching staff under Regan’s tutelage are former Mets Fernando Abad, Merandy Gonzalez, Raul Valdes, and Jenrry Mejia.
Beyond the three pitchers with Regan, there’s not a ton of Mets players in action at this point in winter leagues. Right-handed pitching prospect Harol Gonzalez has a 5.52 ERA in 14 2/3 innings in the Dominican. Right-handed relief prospect Carlos Hernandez has allowed four earned runs in two innings. Infielder Sam Haggerty has gone 1-for-8 with three strikeouts.
One bright spot has been right-handed relief prospect Adonis Uceta, he hasn’t allowed a run in 6 1/3 innings. Aceta – recently re-signed with Mets according to our own Jacob Resnick – has walked six and struck out six. He’s coming off a very strong 2019 season in which he posted a 1.44 ERA for Double-A Binghamton.
The last note from the winter leagues is on Juan Lagares. I know he’s not still in the Mets organization right now, but the really poor center field market and the fact that the Mets are looking for backup outfielder, make it still possible he returns.
Lagares has played seven games and has an unusual .407/.407/.407 slash line to this point.
