The Mets have claimed left-hander Kolton Ingram off waivers from the Tigers. Left-hander David Peterson was moved to New York’s 60-day injured list to create roster space.
Ingram was designated for assignment by Detroit earlier this week, and he’ll now be joining his third organization in under a month. The Angels DFA’ed Ingram when they signed Aaron Hicks at the end of January, and the Tigers moved to claim Ingram off waivers. The southpaw was initially a 37th-round Tigers draft pick back in 2019, but his second stint in the Motor City will last only a few weeks, as he now becomes the latest in a long line of Mets bullpen acquisitions this winter.
After first being cut loose by Detroit in 2020, Ingram caught on with the Angels prior to the 2021 season and posted some very solid numbers during his three seasons in the Los Angeles farm system. The work paid off in the form of Ingram’s MLB debut last season, when he pitched in five big league games over a pair of call-ups during the course of the year. For his first 5 1/3 frames in the Show, Ingram struggled to an 8.44 ERA with five walks and two homers allowed over 30 batters faced.
Control has been an issue throughout Ingram’s minor league career, though his 10.73% walk rate has been somewhat countered by a 30.21% strikeout rate. This ability to miss bats has been developed despite the lack of a big fastball, though Ingram has worked to increase his velocity and also develop a sweeper as a plus pitch. Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press recently profiled Ingram, detailing his steps to continually retool his mechanics and approach in the aftermath of getting released in 2020.
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns built a reputation for finding hidden-gem relief pitching during his time with the Brewers, and Stearns has been aggressive in a semi-overhaul of the bullpen during his first offseason in change of New York’s front office. Over a dozen relievers or swingmen with past Major League experienced have been acquired on either guaranteed or non-guaranteed deals this winter, as Stearns and the Mets’ pitching development staff will get to judge from a plethora of options this spring.
Peterson’s placement on the 60-day IL was expected, as he underwent hip surgery back in November. The left-hander’s recovery timeline is 6-7 months, so if all goes well, he should be back with the Mets in May or June.
Never thought he’d make it through waivers. Have left arm, will travel!
NYM “pitching lab” sure has a bunch of upside potential arms. About 5 weeks away from seeing if it’s improved some of them.
Stearns making boss moves. Love it. Setting up for worst record so they can draft 11th. Success.
Nobody correct this post.
It’s too special as it is.
Yankees scrub club went 28 at bats against Nola with 1 hit. From Greg allen. Hahahaha so they have proven that the be team can’t hit, still. And that’s going to be the team as season goes just like 2023.
Didn’t they score 20 runs yesterday?
@178iq: If you actually follow baseball, you would know that pitchers are always ahead of hitters early in spring training, so what they did against Nola means nothing.
That’s verlanders replacement. Mets are dollar cost averaging
George Ski, from NBD?
For the $43 mill. they were paying Verlander and the $750k they’d pay Ingram if he made the club, they could get two starters at $22 mill. like two Sonny Grays!
between verlander, ingram (who is a reliever), and senga, the mets have about $60M guaranteed and zero starting pitchers.
Between Verlander, Ingram, senga, and David Stearns (who doesn’t play baseball). The Mets have about $70m guaranteed and zero starting pitchers.
youre onto something here. lets keep it going
more useless comments from idiots
@mookiesboy The likely tombstone of planet Earth.
I’m not impressed w/ Stearns’ offseason, but Kolton Ingram’s not a bad gamble given the Mets lose absolutely nothing they value if he doesn’t pan out for them.
Another guy from that cohort Stearns’ adores: High K, high BB, not ancient, bad MLB numbers so he was available. Unable so far to come close to translating his milb numbers to MLB
Like the man said, you can teach ’em to type, but you can’t teach ’em to grow a pitch that misses bats.
Not in a single spring training, anyway.
As a small move I like this. Ingram has very strong numbers in the upper minors. including in AA:
1.046WHIP / 5.7H / 0.6HR / 3.7BB / 11.3K
You can do something with that, on occasion.
Stearns tries to act so cool when he doesn’t interviews but he can’t hide that geek look he’s got. This is what they meant when they would say the nerds will get the last laugh. Ashame he is a horrible GM that is leading this pitiful franchise further down the rabbit hole of failure and misery. Taking bets now on the next Head of Baseball OPS for this loser franchise.