PORT ST. LUCIE — Joey Lucchesi is a kind of uncommon starters who has made a profession with solely two pitches. It’s not fully exceptional, however a pitcher like Lucchesi who doesn’t throw exceptionally arduous however has a devastating breaking pitch sometimes will get moved to the bullpen sooner or later in his profession.
Lucchesi might find yourself there himself this season and if that’s what occurs, he’s high-quality with it. After lacking most of 2021 and all of 2022 with Tommy John surgical procedure, the left-hander is raring to pitch once more on the Major League stage.
“I want to just help contribute to the team in any way,” Lucchesi stated Friday at Clover Park after beginning the Mets’ intrasquad sport. “I love starting and I’ve been starting my whole career but I mean, I can help out in the ‘pen too. I can get outs wherever, it doesn’t matter.”
There was some dialogue about bringing Lucchesi into the bullpen late final season however the Mets finally selected to belief David Peterson and Tylor Megill, two different starters who didn’t but have high-leverage aid expertise on the time however have been capable of achieve it. Lucchesi made eight rehab appearances final season and was wholesome sufficient to return to the large league staff.
However, Lucchesi will seemingly be wanted as a starter sooner or later through the season, as will Peterson and Megill. So it would make extra sense to maintain him stretched out in Triple-A, however the Mets plan to evaluate their bullpen choices as Grapefruit League play progresses over the subsequent month.
Lucchesi and Peterson stand out as left-handers. The Mets solely have one left-hander within the rotation, Jose Quintana.
Lucchesi threw two innings and roughly 25-30 pitches, 4-5 of which have been his signature “churves.”
“It was a big day for Joey to get out there and throw two innings,” supervisor Buck Showalter stated. “That doesn’t go unnoticed. It’s been a long path for him.”
PROSPECT WATCH
Two key prospects had sturdy showings within the intrasquad sport. Brett Baty led off the sport with a line drive over Francisco Lindor and doubled to the warning monitor in his second at-bat. Shortstop Ronny Mauricio snared a liner on the run making a formidable defensive play, and walked as soon as. The 21-year-old shortstop has been a free swinger as an expert and scouts say he’ll must develop into extra disciplined and develop a extra discerning eye to achieve success on the Major League stage.
But for now, it was a reasonably good exhibiting for 2 of the Mets’ most vital prospects.
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com