The Mets are in agreement with reliever Tommy Hunter on a minor league contract, report Ken Rosenthal and Britt Ghiroli of the Athletic (Twitter link). The Athletic adds that the righty will report to the team’s complex in Port St. Lucie this week and is hoping to build into MLB game shape by June.
Ghiroli reported this morning that Hunter recently conducted a showcase in front of scouts. It didn’t take long for him to find a home after demonstrating his current form, as he’ll return to the place where he began the 2021 season. The 6’3″ hurler signed a minor league deal with New York last February, then pitched his way onto the MLB roster by the first week of May. Hunter worked eight scoreless innings across four appearances, punching out six while issuing three walks and allowing four hits.
Unfortunately, Hunter landed on the injured list just two weeks after the Mets called him up. He was nebulously diagnosed with lower back pain, but he was transferred to the 60-day IL not long thereafter. New York traded Hunter to the Rays to offset some money in the teams’ July Rich Hill deal, but he remained on Tampa Bay’s IL all season. The veteran qualified for free agency, and his stay on the open market was quiet until today.
According to Ghiroli, Hunter underwent back surgery at some point last year. He’s now progressed to throwing, and he’ll take the next month-plus to accumulate pitches and build stamina in hopes of making a midseason return to the bullpen. If healthy, the 14-year MLB veteran should have a good shot at landing a middle innings role for skipper Buck Showalter. Since moving from the rotation to the ’pen with Showalter’s Orioles in 2013, Hunter has tossed 402 innings of 3.18 ERA ball, holding opposing hitters to a .238/.285/.370 slash line. Hunter’s velocity has fallen from its 97 MPH peak into the 92-94 range of late, but he has excellent control and has generally induced ground-balls at a better than average clip.
Staying healthy has been an issue for Hunter, who spent some time on the IL in each season between 2016-21 (although his 2020 stint was COVID-related, not due to a physical injury). On a non-roster deal, there’s little risk for the Mets in gauging Hunter’s form over the next few weeks to determine whether to add him back to the big league bullpen.
Everyone overreact as quickly as possible
It’s so bad that I can’t even react.
Hunter is going to win the Cy Young in half a season and lead the Mets to a World Series win.
I guess the Mets read my earlier post about how the Mets should of brought him back
Okay, this is a very good entry for the overreaction contest.
That was quick
Well that was fast, but glad to see him still going
Mets are now officially the April WS champion!
Just like every other year for the last 5 years!
Correction: Most of the last36 years.
How is Hunter only 35? It seems like he’s been around forever.
Welcome back, Kotter.
…..off my case toilet face….
Up your nose with a rubber hose
He played for Buck in Baltimore when the O’s had a competitive team. Not surprised to see this.
Also had a good but short run with the Mets.
Iirc he hit 1.000.
Yep. I had to look it up. Scored a run. Season OPS+ 456! So, obviously he’s a pinch hitter option, heh. He knows how to score runs!
I remember that hit, he was so excited. He said it’s the coolest thing he’s ever done in the big leagues. I recommend watching the clip of his hit and post game interview, it was entertainment.
Bullpen guys never die, they just get recycled around the league. He actually pitched decently with the Mets before he got hurt. Never hurts to have an extra arm around injuries are certain to come.
Since moving to the bullpen ten years ago, Tommy Hunter has almost always pitched well before getting hurt. He consistently gets positive results, but you hold your breath waiting for the next injury.
Assuming he ramps up at a faster pace than deGrom, Jake could be put on the 60-day to give him some time on the MLB roster before someone has to be DFA’d. If he doesn’t improve his play, it could be Canó.
Nice, underrated pickup. He’ll eat some innings but won’t touch anything late and close.
Funny how radically different of a definition “innings eater” has nowadays from what I’m used to. I don’t understand how a one inning at a time reliever can be an “innings eater”. To me, he’s the complete opposite.
Well, you’re right. What I should have specified is that he can eat some low leverage relief innings. He’ll also likely eat quite a bit at the clubhouse buffet.
I see what you’re saying. Yea, that’s exactly what you hope for from him. Sometimes I just like to complain for the sake of complaining.
Yeah, he’s a full-figured guy that thrives at the buff.
Why? Any port in a storm?
Time for the inevitable office pool: How many appearances will Hunter make before he lands on the IL. I’m going with 6, and even then I think it’s a stretch
Missed WAR.
You need to post that a few more times since it’s just so hilarious
@Bill M Make sure to tell that to the many other posters that mention it more than me. This was only like my 4th or 5th time in total. I’m not even in the top 20 posters in mentioning it.
Throw in the number of Mets fans the that said it over and over and over again, I’m not even in the top 50 in mentioning it.
Good move. Can never have too much BP depth.
I liked the pickup last season and was disappointed he wound up injured. Was valuable enough to be flipped in a swap for Rich Hill so certainly doesn’t hurt to have him as depth this season.
Depth. That is all.
It’s funny how often the Mets and Phillies use the same middling relievers. I like Tommy Hunter by the way. If (a big if) the Mets have a weakness, it’s their pen. So depth there makes sense.
Back half of the rotation is a real weakness. July is going to be ugly; August horrendous if deGrom doesn’t make it back.
For a big guy with mass, he’s brittle.
I really felt the Mets (or any team, really) should have made an offer to Trevor Rosenthal. Similar scenario to see what he has left.
@jim stern
I agree. You know what’s odd. There always seems to be guys that look like obvious choices to sign, but don’t get signed, and their careers end when they could’ve clearly played at a level that is no worse than guys that teams had to pay more for. I think when we see that happen, a lot of it is behind the scenes stuff…such as networking, personality fits, etc. that often are ignored when guys are in their primes. We know politics are a part of business life, but you’d think it was nearly non-existent in sports, but you often wonder when you look at situations like the guys who don’t get signed when it’s obvious they should be.
And before anyone doubts it, all we have to do is look at a person that we can consider the posterboy for this, who we really understand why and don’t feel sorry for, the one and only Yasiel Puig. While most of us agree with the decision for no one to bring him in, it still is the perfect example of behind the scenes stuff affecting a guy not getting signed who clearly has the ability to play at a level that’s worthy of being signed.
Exactly what I was thinking. On the margins, especially, personality matters.
*ROCHESTER RABBITS
First, my condolences on being cut out of Steve Cohen’s will. Second, you do realize the Mets already have an affiliate with a similarly comical name, don’t you? I loves me some Binghamton Rumble Ponies!!!