Yes, Anthony Kay says, there were nerves. The former UConn star, who grew up on Long Island, who has practically lived on the rubber, felt the rush that probably shouldn’t come with a matchup against the Augusta GreenJackets with Single-A Columbia.

But it was his first one, his professional debut — nearly two years after making his last appearance in a game that mattered.

“Adrenaline was rushing. It was just good to be back on the mound,” Kay said of his April 8, long-awaited Mets-system debut. “Little [nervous]. But once the game started that went away, and it was just excitement being back out there.”

A half-decade after the Mets originally drafted him and 23 months after he threw his last pitch for the Huskies, Kay successfully put himself back on the map, a four-inning, two-run, none-earned performance in which he struck out four.

There was rust and a fastball that sometimes got away. But that happens after Tommy John surgery, which cost Kay a season and a half of development and tried his patience, keeping him off the field and rehabbing for essentially his entire Mets career.

The Mets had long liked the kid from their backyard, making him a 29th-round pick in 2013 before he decided on UConn. Just a few days after the Mets secured him with a first-round pick in June 2016, he learned he had a tear in his UCL. Soon enough, he went under the knife, a college-arm left-hander with the potential to jet through the system disappearing from the team’s immediate plans.

Kay, who said boredom, not rehab, was his biggest challenge, looked at the Mets’ rotation for proof he would launch a comeback, even talking to fellow Ward Melville High School product (and Tommy John survivor) Steven Matz for advice.

“I didn’t have any doubts I was going to make it back,” said the 23-year-old Kay, a stout 6-foot, 218 pounds. “[Matz] said just to be patient, trust the process and come back stronger.”

Kay may have taken that last bit to heart. In his debut year, he’s throwing harder than his pre-surgery days, topping out at 96 mph while living in the low-to-mid 90s. It hasn’t been pristine, because it rarely is in the aftermath of elbow surgery, and Kay admitted his control has been lacking. He complements the added heat with a plus changeup and developing breaking ball, which have led to a 4.04 ERA with 32 strikeouts and 13 walks in 35 ²/₃ innings this year.

His manager, Pedro Lopez, said he sees the potential in Kay that made him the 31st-overall pick.

“Definitely. Fastball in the mid-90s, good breaking ball, pretty good feel for the changeup,” Lopez said. “Just needs to work on his fastball command.”

It’s as if the Mets have a brand-new first-rounder to groom.

“Without being able to pitch all last year — we really haven’t been able to see him pitch other than Instructional League since we drafted him,” Mets director of minor league operations Ian Levin said. “Great to have him out there. Good to see him making his progression.

“Looks like he feels good, feels healthy, the ball’s coming out pretty good.”

Levin said there is a “general target” for Kay’s innings this season, as the Mets plot out his progression. And whether an older, first-year pitcher can sail through the system is a faraway thought.

“I’m not worried about where or when,” Levin said about the idea of a promotion, “I just want him to be out there pitching.”

For the team and the pitcher, these are concerns for a different date, as the adrenaline rush wears off and the familiar settles in, a feeling for which Kay has longed.

Kay acknowledged glancing up at the Mets’ staff, which has largely struggled, with a shallow system not offering replacements. But the first significant injury of his life has curbed his goals and assigned him a new perspective. Arm rotation by arm rotation, Kay said he’s returning to the pitcher he was — with a bit more juice.

“Just [want to] stay healthy,” Kay said. “I want to get through a full year staying healthy. Just want to be able to pitch.”