PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — If anyone knows how to break a pitcher like right-hander Noah Syndergaard into the big leagues, it is the New York Mets.
Two years ago, the Mets spoke glowingly in spring training of righty Matt Harvey, a former first-round draft pick who was nearly ready to make his Major League debut. For various reasons, the Mets waited until July to promote Harvey, who rapidly became one of the game’s best.
Last year, with that blueprint in place, the Mets did basically the same thing with right-hander Zach Wheeler. They promoted him in June, and have high hopes this year that he will break out as Harvey did in his first full big league season.
Enter Syndergaard, one of the key pieces the Mets received from the Blue Jays two winters ago in return for R.A. Dickey. After breezing all the way up to Triple-A Las Vegas last summer, Syndergaard entered his first big league camp as highly-regarded as Harvey and Wheeler before him.
He is currently in the process of wowing his superiors, beginning with two shutout innings Monday against the Braves in a spring training game. Afterward, Braves outfielder Justin Upton said that “Harvey’s Harvey, but Syndergaard and Wheeler are definitely a close second.”
“Today was a big test,” Mets manager Terry Collins said of Syndergaard, who features an upper-90s fastball plus a curveball and changeup. “You’re not in Kansas anymore. You’re where the big guys play, and I thought he handled it great.”
There is virtually zero chance that Syndergaard breaks camp with the big club, considering the Mets’ pitching depth and their desire to control him for one more year by keeping him down in the minors to start the season. But Syndergaard should be up in the big leagues by June or July, giving the Mets another highly-touted young arm to pair with Wheeler and Harvey for years to come.
NOTES, QUOTES
–2B Wilmer Flores played shortstop Tuesday for the first time in a spring game. Though the Mets will likely use Flores mostly at second base this season, they are experimenting with him at short due to their weakness at the position. The Venezuelan native came up as a natural shortstop, but his size and lack of range eventually forced him off the position.
–RHP Noah Syndergaard passed what manager Terry Collins called “a big test” when he threw two shutout innings Monday against the Atlanta Braves. The outing was Syndergaard’s first against Major League competition. He will likely begin this season at Triple-A Las Vegas before making his Major League debut in June.
–C Travis d’Arnaud has been working with former Mets star Mike Piazza, who is in camp for one week as a special instructor. D’Arnaud, a Southern California native, said it was “a dream” to work with Piazza, whom he grew up idolizing as a member of the Dodgers.
–RHPs Daisuke Matsuzaka and John Lannan are leading the Mets’ fifth starter competition, according to Collins. Though Collins said RHP Jenrry Mejia is still in the mix as well, the manager prefers having a veteran pitcher hold down the rotation spot early in the season. Matsuzaka in particular has impressed Collins early in camp.
–1Bs Ike Davis and Lucas Duda began their spring competition with a bang, with Davis homering in the Mets’ first Grapefruit League game and Duda going yard in the second. Both suffered minor injuries Monday, but neither first baseman is expected to miss much time. The two are battling this spring for the starter’s job at first.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I’m just enjoying today and it’s fun to get back in uniform and be in the clubhouse. I feel like I have a lot to teach. Obviously, I felt like I got a lot out of my ability at the plate. If I can just talk to some young guys and maybe put a little bit of thought to help them advance their careers, it’s very rewarding.” — Former New York C Mike Piazza, who is back with the Mets as a spring instructor