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NY Mets: Best “Bench Mob” moments of the 2021 season

By Brad LaPlante

May 11, 2021; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pinch hitter Patrick Mazeika (L) is congratulated by shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) after a walk-off fielders choice during the bottom of the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
May 11, 2021; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pinch hitter Patrick Mazeika (L) is congratulated by shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) after a walk-off fielders choice during the bottom of the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 29, 2021; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Tylor Megill (38) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

Finally, the Mets have something special in Tylor Megill.

No, he isn’t your stereotypical “bench player” since he has cemented himself into this team’s rotation. Despite that, most Mets fans didn’t know who he was prior to this year. Megill wasn’t on the Mets’ Top 25 Prospects (according to MLB.com) before the season began. Now he’s #20.

What Megill is doing this year is similar to the impact that David Peterson had in 2020. Peterson helped out the pitching depth with Noah Syndergaard undergoing Tommy John, Marcus Stroman opting out, and several injuries and a struggle to find length.

Megill made a surge that no one expected. He was the team’s 8th round draft pick in 2018 out of the University of Arizona. He got a head start in Short Season A Brooklyn. In 28 innings, he led himself to a 3.21 ERA with 11.6 strikeouts per nine innings. Not bad.

In 2019 with Adv A St Lucie, Class-A Columbia, and Double-A Binghamton, his ERA was 3.52. This year, after starting out in Binghamton and receiving a promotion to Triple-A Syracuse. His strikeouts per nine innings went all the way up to 13.2. in 40.1 innings.

Since being called up to the Majors, Megill has also pitched 40.1 innings, but has a lesser ERA despite allowing more hits. His WHIP is 1.11 and his strikeout per nine stat is 9.6, both above average.

He’s nearly a Jacob deGrom archetype: tall (taller than Jacob deGrom) with a mid-to-high 90s fastball, a devastating slider, changeup, and curveball. deGrom was also a late pick, taken in the 9th round. They also came out of nowhere from the minors to the MLB.

For all those who recommended the Mets trade away Megill at the deadline, that would be a disaster. Megill will dominate the league for years to come. He’s a gem.

Next. Universal DH would help the Mets

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At this point, it seems like the Mets’ bench players have come through in bigger moments than the team’s starters. It’s impossible to emphasize how depth has carried this team all season.

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