1 NY Mets player the team might miss more than we thought they would

Frustrating at times, crucial in other moments, the New York Mets won’t be able to turn to one of their commonly used shields over the past few seasons in the coming year. Tylor Megill is out with Tommy John ligament replacement surgery, leaving the 2026 campaign a wash for his career. They decided to tender him a contract back in November, hoping to let him rehab for a year and come back in triumph for the 2027 campaign.

A 3.95 ERA in 14 starts last year marked a slight improvement for “Big Drip” from the year prior. 15 starts and a relief appearance in 2024 included a 4.04 ERA.

These last two seasons have been measurably better for Megill. Combine them and he’s 9-10 with a 4.00 ERA and 11.1 K/9. An ERA+ of 100 tells us this is close to average, but in the role the Mets would need him for most, that’s just fine. When measured against some of the current Mets pitchers, he'd be incredibly useful.

The Mets already miss Tylor Megill, who would've guessed?

The 2022 Opening Day starter due to injuries, Megill has often found his way onto the Mets roster due to cataclysmic events within the pitching staff. His career-high 25 starts in 2023 didn’t really give a full picture of what he can or cannot do as he secured many of those starts late in the year when the club had already subtracted many others. He began that season poorly, but ever since his recall in late 2023, he was more steady.

The real debate with Megill is whether he should be a starter or reliever. Ignoring the success of his brother as an elite reliever for the Milwaukee Brewers right now, it’s Megill’s inability to last long in games and the burnout effect from multiple innings. Megill is a high strikeout pitcher with nasty stuff in a 5-pitch arsenal. He could be a really good reliever on paper. The Mets have just needed him a lot more as a starter.

Unable to ask him for emergency assistance in 2026, Tobias Myers took on the hybrid role of starter/reliever man envisioned for Megill this year instead. The team has dipped into its minor league depth with Christian Scott getting a call-up. Megill would have, without a doubt, already had his opportunity to tease us. Somehow with a remaining minor league option still available, floating between the majors and Syracuse would have been a guarantee.

Upon his expected return to the Mets staff in 2027, Megill’s role may force him into shorter spurts. He could, conceivably, be a longman out of the bullpen. The Mets have used guys like that effectively with Max Kranick and Huascar Brazoban being two of the better examples even though the former ended up suffering a similar season-ending injury. This year's bullpen is full of them out of necessity because many of the starters cannot be trusted in that role.

Tendering Megill a contract in the first place suggests the Mets have plans for him in the future. It guarantees nothing. What we do know is there is always a circumstance where Megill becomes needed and thrust right into the rotation. It didn't take long in 2026 to feel a little nostalgic for the unknown results he often provided.

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