Jeurys Familia is thriving in the New York Mets’ competitive spring environment

According to MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, things at the New York Mets‘ spring training complex in Port St. Lucie are getting extremely competitive. And that only means good things with the season only a few weeks from starting.

The live batting practice sessions have been on fire. On one field, Cuban slugger Yoenis Cespedes put on one of his patented violent swings but missed a Jacob deGrom’s fastball.

The Mets’ two-time Cy Young winner was spotted smiling for several moments after the swing and miss, and it all ended in a hug between the two competitive men.

“Field 7 got a little bit competitive there for a minute,” Mets manager Luis Rojas said while laughing. “It got ramped up almost to like regular-season mode right there. That was good old fun, both smiling knowing that they’re two competitive players.”

Familia already impressing the Mets’ staff

Yet, one of the biggest storylines came from another field. Jeurys Familia, a pitcher that many are leaving for dead after he had a terrible 2019 season, reportedly generated several swings and misses from a hitting group that included sluggers Pete Alonso and Dominic Smith, as well as contact machine Jeff McNeil.

According to backup catcher Rene Rivera, the session was su impressive and so successful for the much-maligned reliever that he ran over to where manager Luis Rojas was at the moment to tell him.

Familia, a career 3.16 ERA pitcher, had a 5.70 ERA in 2019. He had lots of control issues, handing bases on balls at a 6.30 rate per each nine innings when his career mark is 4.03.

“I heard really good things about how the ball was coming out of his hand,” said Rojas, who planned to watch video of Familia’s session later in the day according to MLB.com.

Familia reportedly lost 30 pounds in the offseason and is poised for a rebound year.

Rescuing Jeurys Familia would be a massive addition to the New York Mets’ bullpen. The unit already has Edwin Diaz, Robert Gsellman, Seth Lugo, Dellin Betances, Brad Brach and Justin Wilson.