HOUSTON — The signing of Griffin Canning by the Mets in December didn’t trigger a lot of a ripple in an offseason through which billions of {dollars} have been invested in free company and the injury-prone right-hander who gave up an American League-high 99 earned runs a 12 months in the past appeared like simply one other depth piece.
However a robust efficiency throughout spring coaching, mixed with accidents to higher-priced signings Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas, opened up a spot for Canning and the 28-year-old is about to make his Mets debut Saturday in Houston.
And for a little-known pitcher who toiled in Anaheim for the primary six seasons of his profession after being drafted by then-general supervisor Billy Eppler within the second spherical of the 2017 draft out of UCLA, there may be some hope Canning may make a reputation for himself in Queens.
Canning arrived to the Mets following a commerce from the Angels to the Braves, in trade for Jorge Soler, solely to be non-tendered by Atlanta earlier than hitting arbitration.
Then a free agent, Canning inked a $4.25 million, one-year cope with the Mets.
Requested throughout spring coaching if the struggles with the Angels and being lower free by the Braves made him lose his confidence, Canning stated, “I think that kind of stuff would make that happen to anyone.”
A brand new starting with the Mets, although, appears to have had a optimistic affect on Canning, who opened eyes throughout spring coaching — which caught the eye of his previous school coach, John Savage.
Savage, who coached Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer in school, labored with Canning shortly earlier than he headed to spring coaching in Port St. Lucie.
“He’s like a greyhound: really thin and twitchy,” Savage stated by telephone. “The ball came out of his hand different and we loved his makeup and competitiveness.”
He went on to a strong profession in school, however hasn’t had the identical leads to the majors.
“This is a guy who can really pitch and has got the stuff to match his pitchability,’’ Savage said. “I think he flew under the radar the last couple years and had a hard time last year in some starts, but what he did this spring is what we saw at UCLA. We knew he had that kind of ceiling if he could stay healthy.”
And that’s been among the many points which have stalled Canning’s profession.
A low again stress fracture in August 2021 ended that season and induced him to overlook all of 2022, however he pitched 121 innings the next season and a 171 ⅔ innings a 12 months in the past, albeit with a 5.19 ERA.
The Mets have visions of their pitching program serving to Canning turn out to be more practical and benefit from his swing-and-miss stuff.
“I think his interactions with our pitching coaches, understanding what we’re trying to help him with, while also staying true to how he believes he’s the best pitcher,’’ president of baseball operations David Stearns said. “So I think there has been a lot of back and forth and interaction and it’s been great to see.”
He acquired off to a promising begin. In 14 1/3 Grapefruit League innings, Canning struck out 22 and walked 5.
Savage stated Canning was prepared for the problem after “a whirlwind” offseason.
“I think he was looking forward to working with their technology,’’ Savage said of the Mets. “Plus, a new atmosphere, new opportunity, different voices. It’s a new world to him.”
One that would profit Canning after years of tumult with the Angels.
“I had four different pitching coaches, different managers with different philosophies,’’ Canning said of his time with the Angels. “Some years were more tech heavy, some were more traditional.”
So extra stability with the Mets may assist.
“To a certain degree, yeah,’’ said Canning, who grew up in southern California, going to Angels games, went to UCLA and then was drafted by his hometown team. “You see all the time, going being in a new place helps a guy a lot… I was lucky to pitch for the team I grew up rooting for, but I’ve been in California my whole life and being here, it might not even be a new message for me, it might just resonate differently. Now it’s up to me.”
