3 former NY Mets players the team gave up on too soon now thriving with the Orioles

It’s not Melvin Mora all over again just yet. We figured the big storyline connecting the New York Mets to the Baltimore Orioles this year would be whatever Pete Alonso does. The big guy is hitting .167 with a single home run heading into Sunday’s game. He’s not exactly vanquishing comparisons to Chris Davis.

Meanwhile, other ex-Mets on the Orioles are thriving. Ryan Helsley has seemingly escaped from danger, owning a 3.38 ERA but a 2.06 WHIP thanks to an abundance of hits and walks allowed.

No, it’s not either of those high-profile Mets excelling in Maryland right now. It’s three players the team gave up on prematurely who’ve been more impressive.

Three ex-Mets players on the Orioles roster we wish we had back

1) Jeremiah Jackson

You remember Jeremiah Jackson, right? He was a pickup from the Los Angeles Angels at the 2023 trade deadline in exchange for…gosh what was that guy’s name…Dominic Leone! I had to look it up.

The Angels gave up Jackson in his age 23 season amid doubts he’d ever be able to climb above Double-A. He played well for the Mets to finish off the 2023 season. In 2024, still in Double-A, he hit .205. They granted him his release.

Something must be in the water and Jackson doesn’t know when to say when. He made it to the majors last year for the Orioles and hit .276/.328/.447 with 5 home runs and 21 RBI in 183 trips to the plate. This year he’s at .278/.289/.389. A versatile fielder at second base right now, he spent a lot of last year at third base and right field for the Orioles. He’s getting groomed to become a very steady utility player.

2) Anthony Nunez

Reliever Anthony Nunez went to the Orioles in the Cedric Mullins trade last summer. At least they got something for him? Okay. Never mind. A converted position player who became a pitcher, Nunez shot through the minor leagues with the Mets and ended up in Triple-A with Baltimore after the trade.

So far he has rewarded the Orioles for giving him an Opening Day roster spot. He has allowed one run in 7.1 innings while striking out 9 and walking 1. Huge strikeout numbers in the minor leagues which have continued in the majors through the early going could have him profiling as a closer sooner than later.

3) Rico Garcia

This is a weird one because Rico Garcia is already in his age 32 season. Garcia appears to be a late-bloomer of some kind. He had 5.2 scoreless innings in spring training for the Orioles. He has another 6.2 with 0 hits allowed in the regular season.

Garcia was a Mets minor league signing in the 2024-2025 offseason who did well but was DFA’d by the Mets. He famously joined the New York Yankees, stunk, and went back to the Mets. He ended up with a 2.13 ERA and a whole lot of fans who preferred him over Ryne Stanek for the final weeks. Rightfully so.

Garcia has a 2.67 ERA in 33.2 innings since leaving the Mets last August. He’s the exact kind of steal you’d guess David Stearns would find and keep. Instead, he’s one the front office let slip away.