PORT ST. LUCIE — What a distinction a 12 months makes for Reed Garrett.
Final spring coaching, he needed to battle for a spot within the Mets bullpen, having pitched simply 44 ¹/₃ innings and proudly owning a profession 7.11 ERA throughout three seasons in MLB, which have been sandwiched round a stint in Japan.
He made 9 appearances for the Mets in 2023 after being designated for project by the Orioles and subsequently signing with the Mets in June of that 12 months, recording a 5.82 ERA.
However Garrett loved a breakout season in 2024, recording a 3.77 ERA in 53 outings and rising as a trusted late-inning arm for supervisor Carlos Mendoza.
He’s not battling for a roster spot this time round — he’s being counted on as a crucial piece.
“Obviously you don’t want to take anything for granted, but last year was a big year,” Garrett instructed The Submit on Sunday. “I learned a lot, threw a lot of high-leverage situations and stuff like that. It plays a part, and I think the biggest thing for me this year is it’s the first time in a while I’m in the same spot [for two consecutive seasons] for spring training. Having that sense of familiarity with people and knowing who everybody is and not having to meet a bunch of new people and sharing teammates again, it’s been great.”
What allowed him to take pleasure in the perfect season of his profession final 12 months?
“I think it all started in 2023, at the end of the season,” Garrett stated. “Threw the ball really well at the end of that season and I think that gave me the confidence going into last offseason to build on that. I got an opportunity at the beginning of the season last year and I took advantage of it. It was just more of having that confidence and knowing that I was here and knowing the people that were around and just taking advantage of the opportunity I got.”
Job safety has allowed Garrett, 32, to experiment extra this spring, notably along with his fastball.
He threw the pitch a career-low 16.5 % final 12 months, per FanGraphs.
And opposing batters owned a .400 common towards the pitch, method greater than any of his different pitches.
Maybe enhancing with the pitch can take Garrett to a different stage.
“It’s just something I wanted to work on,” Garrett stated. “Obviously we’re not complete pitchers, we’re not finished products. We’re all just trying our best to be as well-rounded as we can. I thought that was something that maybe can work, it’s a work in progress.”
