The New York Mets, with their eyes once again set on October glory, quietly assembled the kind of roster that makes opposing teams a little nervous. They’re not just stockpiling big names; they’re building a destination—an oasis for untapped talent.
One man’s scrap heap is another’s shiny new weapon, and Griffin Canning is starting to look like a very shiny weapon indeed.
From California Chaos to Queens Calm
Canning arrived in New York with little fanfare—a one-year deal, low risk, plenty of baggage. In Anaheim, he was a riddle wrapped in a slider: flashes of brilliance clouded by inconsistency and injuries.
His ERA ballooned over five last year with the Angels, a team that seemed to specialize in wasting potential. But with the Mets? It’s a different vibe entirely.
Much like a chef who’s finally handed quality ingredients, Canning has found himself in a place that knows how to bring out the flavor. The Mets’ coaching staff didn’t try to reinvent him—they just pointed him toward what already worked.
“The conversation this spring was just kind of like, ‘Hey, these are your best pitches. Why not lean on these?’” Canning recalled. Sometimes it’s that simple. Don’t try to be everything. Just be great at what you’re already good at.
A Spring Tease or the Real Deal?
Canning’s spring was more than a pleasant surprise—it was a sign of intent. In 9.2 regular season innings so far, he’s posted a tidy 2.79 ERA, flashing sharp command and some bite on his pitches. And he’s not even at full speed yet.
Physically, he looks refreshed. No lingering elbow aches, no groin tweaks, no back tightness. For the first time in years, his body isn’t fighting him. Instead, it’s finally letting him show what he’s capable of.
A Second Chance, a First Impression
“I love it here,” Canning said earlier this week, per Erik Samulski of NBC Sports. “Everything is top of the line. I’m enjoying the change in scenery and just kind of experiencing something new.”
That kind of enthusiasm is hard to fake. For a guy who’s bounced through injuries and disappointments, the fresh start seems to be just what the doctor ordered.
Canning is now pitching ‘backward,’ which basically means he is focusing on his breaking stuff as the foundation of his game and complementing it with the heater.
The Mets aren’t banking on miracles—they’re investing in upside. And so far, that upside is paying off. Canning may have walked into Queens as a reclamation project, but he’s already looking like a shrewd piece of the puzzle.