The clock officially has restarted for Noah Syndergaard to return to the Mets as a reliever this season, after the former All-Star starter took a bit of a roller-coaster ride while throwing mostly fastballs in his return to the mound Thursday night in Coney Island.
How much Syndergaard will be able to help the sinking Mets, however, is in serious question. Following his one-inning outing for High-A Brooklyn, the righty revealed he has been medically advised not to throw his slider for the remainder of this season.
Noah Syndergaard returned to the mound tonight. Jason Szenes for the New York PoSyndergaard allowed a leadoff home run, but thereafter completed the first inning as planned to start his latest minor league rehab stint, against Aberdeen at Maimonides Park. It marked his first game action since his initial rehab assignment following 2020 Tommy John elbow surgery was halted in May due to discomfort in his repaired elbow.
“It felt great to be out there again … especially after the scare I had three months ago,” Syndergaard said via Zoom. “Anytime you have that sort of setback with that sort of injury in rehab, it’s a little scary.”
Syndergaard coughed up a home run to the first batter he faced, Lamar Sparks, on an 0-2 fastball that registered 95 mph. The righty also hit Doran Turchin with a pitch with one out, before striking out AJ Graffanino and retiring Maverick Handley on a first-pitch groundout to complete the inning at 16 pitches (12 strikes).
Acting Mets general manager Zach Scott has said multiple times he expects the 28-year-old righty to return as a reliever to possibly help the bullpen in September. Scott said Tuesday the Mets envision Syndergaard as a multi-inning threat in relief, a role the pending free agent said he’s willing to fill.
Syndergaard revealed he was instructed not to throw sliders the remainder of the season. Jason Szenes for the New York Po
Syndergaard warming up before the game. Jason Szenes for the New York Po“I feel like I’m pretty flexible, it doesn’t really matter to me,” Syndergaard said. “I just want to go out there and compete and help the team in whatever way I can and pitch in some meaningful baseball games.”
Syndergaard further explained that his doctors — David Altchek and Neal ElAttrache — have advised him to not throw his slider because they believe that pitch likely contributed to his previous shutdown. He also said he decided not to throw his curveball for the rest of the year for that reason, and instead will concentrate on his two-seam and four-seam fastballs and a changeup during shorter relief outings.
“To be honest, I wasn’t aware that was something that was going to happen. We can talk about these things,” manager Luis Rojas said. “I do like the willingness of him participating in any role. He’s still a force even without those two pitches.”
Syndergaard hasn’t pitched for the Mets since September 2019. He missed last year’s pandemic-shortened season due to surgery in March.
“It allowed me to just really focus on my recovery for the last 17 months. I didn’t really have any FOMO [fear of missing out] or any urge to go out and do anything,” Syndergaard said. “There really wasn’t much to do. I’m just very thankful I’m able to come out tonight healthy. I felt really good.”
As for pitching in relief as he heads into an uncertain offseason, Syndergaard added: “I really haven’t focused on free agency or where I’ll be next year. I can’t imagine leaving New York or leaving the Mets.”
