The New York Mets have turned their season around, and after seeming destined to miss the postseason for the second year in a row, the blue and orange are now in the final Wild Card spot at the All-Star break with a 49-46 record.
Since returning to postseason contention, president of baseball operations David Stearns made a pair of moves in acquiring Matt Gage and Phil Maton to strengthen the bullpen and, on Wednesday, continued to do just that by claiming a veteran reliever off the waiver wire.
The Mets have claimed Alex Young
According to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, the Mets have claimed relief pitcher Alex Young off of waivers from the San Francisco Giants and have optioned the left-hander to Triple-A Syracuse.
Young got traded to the Giants from the Cincinnati Reds last week in exchange for Austin Slater and cash. The Ohio native appeared in three games for the Reds this season, pitching two innings while giving up four hits, no runs and striking out a pair, but has been primarily pitching at the Triple-A level.
The 30-year-old made 23 appearances for Triple-A Louisville, pitching 22.2 innings to a stellar 1.19 ERA with a 0.838 WHIP and 22 strikeouts. Young didn’t get the same results in his two appearances for Triple-A Sacramento, pitching two innings across two appearances to a 13.50 ERA with a 3.000 WHIP and one punch out.
What does this mean for the Mets?
Young is another high-upside depth acquisition for the blue and orange. The 30-year-old pitched at an elite level for Triple-A Louisville before being traded to the Giants.
The Ohio native has demonstrated a solid four-pitch mix of a four-seam fastball, a sinker, a change-up and a curveball that often generates whiffs and soft contact.
With a lack of solid options to call up and how well at times Young has pitched in the minors this season, a couple of solid appearances for Triple-A Syracuse could grant Young an opportunity to find a role in the Mets bullpen at some point this season.
