5 pitchers who made clear improvements with NY Mets under Jeremy Hefner

Welcome to Jeremy Hefner's Pitching Lab. NY Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner has a well-earned reputation for helping his pitchers get the most from their abilities. Sometimes, it can be through mechanical adjustments in motion, delivery, or release point. Other times it might be because of his personized coaching philosophy of advanced analytics, adding or eliminating certain pitches in a player's arsenal.

Jeremy Hefner is a proponent of his pitchers adding the "kick" change to their arsenal. It features a changeup style grip and generates spin like a changeup, but has a splitter-like movement and is thrown harder. It fades less than a traditional changeup and moves horizontally to the pitcher's arm side. It's essentially a changeup with a distinct "kick" from the middle finger that alters the ball's spin and movement.

Hefner has helped his pitchers refine their game and they have made clear improvements. Pitchers who may only have had modest success with other teams have found that Hefner’s guidance has helped them attain a success that they had not previously experienced. Here are some notable examples:

Mets Who've Been Saved by Jeremy Hefner: Honorable Mentions

Tylor Megill – Introducing the "Kick Change"
Tylor Megill has been with the Mets for five seasons with a career mark of 25-25. He has also added the kick change, a hybrid pitch blending elements of a changeup and a splitter, to his arsenal under Hefner's guidance. This addition has contributed to his improved and more consistent performance early in the 2025 season.

David Peterson – Post-Injury Resurgence
David Peterson has been with the Mets for six years. After four seasons, his record was only 18-21. Returning from hip surgery, David Peterson worked with Hefner to refine his mechanics and pitch sequencing. This collaboration resulted in a record of 10-3 with a career-best 2.90 ERA over 21 starts in 2024, along with a standout postseason performance, including his first postseason save and win.

Jose Quintana - Signed with the Brewers
In the 2024 MLB season, José Quintana experienced a notable resurgence with the New York Mets, posting a 10–10 record. Jeremy Hefner played a pivotal role in his improvement by adjusting his pitching approach and encouraging him to induce more swings on pitches outside the strike zone. This performance contributed to the Mets' deep playoff run and showcased Hefner's effective coaching strategies. Quintana signed a one-year contract with the Brewers.

Luis Severino - Signed with the Athletics
Severino experienced a significant resurgence with the New York Mets in 2024, rebounding from a challenging 2023 campaign. Under the guidance of Jeremy Hefner, Severino made strategic adjustments that contributed to his improved performance, posting a record of 11-7. Severino signed a one-year contract with the Athletics.