3 NY Mets players whose early success proves Jeremy Hefner is a wizard

The New York Mets brought Jeremy Hefner in as the team’s pitching coach during the 2019-2020 offseason. Hefner is no stranger to the Mets franchise, as he was drafted twice by the team in 2004 and 2005 before being taken by the San Diego Padres in the 2007 draft. After bouncing around the minor leagues, the Mets took him off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2011-2012 offseason. He then joined their starting rotation for parts of two seasons in 2012 and 2013.

The Mets have had plenty of success stories with their pitching, but their pitching staff this year is their biggest strength. On top of that, some of their best performers have been surprises. Hefner’s work with these hurlers proves he may be a pitching wizard after all.

1) Clay Holmes

The Mets signed Clay Holmes this season after spending the parts of the last four seasons with their crosstown rival, the New York Yankees. Holmes was one of the Yanks’ go-to late-inning/high-leverage arms and was quite effective. He pitched to the tune of a 2.69 ERA, 2.74 FIP, and 1.12 WHIP. Holmes owned a solid 26.6% K% and 7.7% walk rate, but was elite at inducing ground balls and limiting home runs, with an impressive 67.8% GB%, and a 0.41 HR/9.

But the Mets didn’t bring in Holmes to set up the 9th inning for Edwin Diaz or close out games. They brought him in as a starter. This is a role Holmes hadn’t served regularly since he was still a prospect in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ system in 2018. Heading into 2025, he only ever made four starts, all of which were in his brief cameo in ‘18 with the Pirates. It was not a guarantee he’d be a good starter.

But after a very promising spring training, Holmes has come out of the gates red hot in a starting pitching role. He’s tossed 48.2 innings, which is the most by any Mets’ starter right now, working to a 3.14 ERA, 3.11 FIP, and 1.25 WHIP. Holmes carries a 23.4% K% and 8.4% BB%. However, he continues to limit home runs and induce plenty of ground balls, with only a 0.55 HR/9 and a 52.2% ground ball rate.

Going from a late-inning reliever to a starting pitching role isn’t easy. Many players have to move back to the bullpen, like A.J. Puk, who struggled in four starts with the Miami Marlins last year before having to move back to the pen. Sometimes, it can completely throw off careers, like in the infamous cases of Daniel Bard or Neftali Feliz. But it seems like the Mets and Jeremy Hefner have cracked the code in this instance with Clay Holmes, as he looks like a top-half-of-the-rotation type of starting pitcher.