WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Right-hander Frankie Montas and left-hander Sean Manaea are both set to start the season on the injured list, but the Mets believe they’re in a good spot when it comes to starting pitching depth. This week, they’re finally getting a chance to see if that’s the case.
With a month left in spring training, the rotation appears to consist of Kodai Senga, David Peterson, Clay Holmes, Paul Blackburn and Griffin Canning, with Tylor Megill potentially slotting into the sixth spot. Below them on the depth chart is right-hander Justin Hagenman and left-hander Brandon Waddell, the latter of which make his first Grapefruit League start of spring Tuesday against the Houston Astros.
It was the first start stateside for the 30-year-old since 2022. That was the year Waddell left the St. Louis Cardinals organization for the Korean Baseball Organization and he’s been in Asia since then, playing 12 games in Taiwan and 43 in Korea. Adjustments will need to be made as the Texas native adapts to the North American game again.
“There are a lot of adjustments, not only with the strike zone, but with the baseball and the hitters,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “I’m not trying to disrespect anyone, but you’re facing big league hitters [in the United States], they’re gonna make adjustments to you, so it’s probably going to take some time here. But look, he’s got the repertoire. He throws strikes, and he’s got a pretty good feel for pitching, so he should be OK.”
Waddell gave up two unearned runs in an 8-5 loss to the Astros at Cacti Park. After a one-out walk to Isaac Paredes, Christian Walker Waddell gave up a double to Christian Walker to put two on. He got Yainer Diaz to pop up to shallow center field for the second out, but then his former Doosan Bears teammate Jared Young booted a ball at first base, allowing Paredes and Walker to score. He put one on in the second inning, but pitched it a single by former Mets infielder Luis Guillorme unscathed.
“We know is going to be around the strike zone and that’s what he did today,” Mendoza said. “He couldn’t put hitters away. He got ahead and then the ball was put in play and we didn’t make a play at first base. But overall, well-respected guy that’s going to attack the strike zone, and he’s going to use all of his pitches and going to give you a chance.”
Waddell’s time in Korea was beneficial and enjoyable, but he still aspires to pitch in the big leagues again, something he’s done only 11 times. The ball used in the KBO is tackier and the seams are different, the strike zone is much smaller and the ballparks tend to be very hitter friendly.
“It’s a different style of baseball,” Waddell said. “You really learn how to pitch. There’s more barrel control. There isn’t as much swing and miss, so you just kind of have to learn how to use the strike zone and how to get guys out in the zone. I think that really helps correlate over here.”
The Mets are expecting to get their top pitchers into games in the next two weeks. Kodai Senga, David Peterson and Griffin Canning will all throw to hitters Wednesday. Canning will be the first of the group to make a Grapefruit League start following that live, but Senga will likely do more work on the back fields in a “controlled environment” before making a spring start.
Canning will be the first of the group to make a Grapefruit League start. Megill will make one soon as well.
The Mets are one more pitching injury away from being in trouble, but they still don’t seem interested in making a move for a free agent pitcher. Manaea is only expected to miss a few starts in April, so with a month left to evaluate their depth, pitchers like Canning, Megill, Waddell, Hagenman and rising prospects like Brandon Sproat will get plenty of opportunities.
NOTABLE PERFORMERS
Luisangel Acuña singled to left to lead off the game and proceeded to put himself in position to score easily on a single by Winker. The speedy infield prospect swiped second and advanced to third when catcher Victor Caratini overthrew the base. Two batters later, Winker hit one down the right side for an RBI single.
Third baseman Brett Baty went 2-for-3 with a home run off right-hander Hayden Wesneski in the third. Center fielder Jose Siri homered in the second inning off Houston right-hander Ronel Blanco, who gave up three earned runs over 1 1/3 innings.
Young, a first baseman and outfielder in camp after playing half a season in Korea in 2024, went 2-for-2 with a run scored, a walk and an error at first.
Right-hander Chris Devenski, who won a World Series with the Astros in 2017, gave up a leadoff homer to Cartini before retiring the next three in order to complete his one inning. The veteran reliever is in camp on a minor league contract, hoping to grab an open bullpen spot.