The Mets appear to have some smart scouts. Over the last few seasons, the club has identified pitchers that many viewed as reclamation projects and turned them into meaningful contributors with some tweaks.
Griffin Canning could be the latest one of that group. The right-hander held the Tampa Bay Rays to one earned run on three hits over 4 2/3 innings Monday in a split-squad Grapefruit League Game, walking one and striking out nine. The one run was a homer by Josh Lowe, with Canning leaving a 2-1 fastball up in the first inning. But that was the only blemish, and it was the first earned run given up by Canning this spring (0.90 ERA over 10 innings with 17 strikeouts).
The former Los Angeles Angels starter has spent his entire career on the west coast, growing up in Orange County and playing for UCLA before getting drafted by the hometown Halos. He never emerged into the frontline starter the Angels had hoped, but if Canning turns in a season similar to the one he had in 2023 when he made 22 starts and posted a 4.32 ERA, the Mets will have another success story.
Monday at Clover Park, Canning induced 13 swings and misses, mostly working off of his slider. He threw 36 of them to the Rays, getting 20 swings. What he didn’t throw as much of was his fastball. The four-seamer has always been an average pitch with average velocity (93-94 MPH), but his value is in his offspeed pitches. The Mets don’t think he needs to use his fastball as much with how effective his other offerings are, especially the slider. Changing the pitch-mix is key for the 28-year-old.
“I feel great, but that don’t mean anything right now,” Canning told reporters following the game. “It definitely feels good to go out there and see my stuff performing and being able to get guys out. But [I’m] just taking it one day at a time.”
The pitching technology the Mets have invested in was part of what attracted Canning to the club over the winter, and it helped last year’s projects as well. Left-hander Sean Manaea was so happy with his experience last season that he signed on for three more. Right-hander Luis Severino continues to sing the Mets’ praises despite having signed a three-year contract with the A’s.
Clay Holmes was a closer for the Yankees last year, now he’s getting the Opening Day start for the team across town. Two years ago, Reed Garrett emerged as one of the team’s best relievers after the Mets claimed him off waivers. Last year, it was Dedniel Nuñez, a minor league veteran who had been in the Mets’ own system since 2017. In the past, the club has struggled to scout its own system, so finding Nuñez and helping him become an effective bullpen piece is a good sign of progress.
Not every project is going to work out. Last year, the Mets were forced to cut ties with right-hander Adrian Houser and Julio Teheran made one disastrous start before being cut. But the success of guys like Manaea and potentially Canning show the Mets are in a good place with their pitching process.
GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE RESULTS
Paul Blackburn pitched four innings against the Miami Marlins on the road, allowing two earned runs on three hits, walking two and striking out six. Justin Hagenman posted a similar line, allowing three runs (two earned) over four innings in a 6-5 win.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Outfielder Brandon Nimmo was able to play the outfield for the first time since Feb. 28. Down with a sore knee, Nimmo said he’s about to “90%” with his running, but is still on track to be ready by Opening Day.
Nuñez pitched in his first Grapefruit League game of spring on Monday, having previously been limited to pitching on the backfields. An elbow injury ended his season early last fall, so the Mets have been working him in slowly this spring.
DH Jesse Winker left the game against the Rays with cramps. The Mets are not concerned it will be anything major.
CAMP CUTS
The team sent infielder Luis De Los Santos, catcher Chris Williams, first baseman Joey Meneses and right-handed relievers Anthony Gose and Sean Reid-Foley to minor league camp. This leaves Hayden Senger and Jakson Reetz as the candidates to back up Luis Torrens at catcher while Francisco Alvarez rehabs from hamate surgery, and Donnie Walton, Brett Baty and Luisangel Acuña as infield options.