1.74 ERA overseas breathes a second chance at MLB life into former NY Mets player

It is funny how baseball careers can wander, circle back, and still surprise the people who follow them closely. The New York Mets once drafted Anthony Kay with the idea that his left arm would grow into something steady and reliable, then watched him leave in a headline trade. Now he returns to MLB as the kind of good news story fans can enjoy.

Kay’s revival started an ocean away, far from the noise that follows prospects and the expectations that trailed him through the minors. A season of precision pitching overseas turned him into one of those rare comeback tales that do not need embellishment. Now he arrives on a two-year deal with Chicago, carrying a 1.74 ERA from across the world and the charm of someone who earned his second chance the long way.

Mets fans will remember Anthony Kay as the first rounder once traded for Marcus Stroman

Kay’s big league road never quite settled before he left for Japan. Across five seasons with three teams, including a late stop with the Mets in 2023 after they claimed him off waivers from the Cubs, he carried a 5.59 ERA. He allowed 90 hits and 47 walks in 85.1 innings with an 81 ERA+, numbers that explained why a fresh start overseas made sense.

That reset paid off quickly. With Yokohama, Kay delivered the strongest stretch of his career, posting a 2.53 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 249 strikeouts over 291.2 innings. The improvement was steady, simple, and unmistakable. He looked like a pitcher who had figured out how to trust his strengths again, and the results gave every MLB team a reason to check in.

His 2025 season turned curiosity into clear interest. Kay set a Yokohama record with a 1.74 ERA across 155 innings while striking out 130 hitters. He also led NPB with a 57.8 percent groundball rate, a sign that his repertoire had found its most effective form. It was the kind of performance that travels well, no matter the league.

The Mets connection remains a meaningful part of his path. Kay was a first-round pick by the Mets twice, first in 2013 before heading to UConn and again in 2016 when he joined the system for good. He rose high enough to become the main piece in the Marcus Stroman trade, and his brief return in 2023 closed that loop before he headed to Japan.

Now he’s back on a two-year $12 million deal with the White Sox, bringing sharpened production and a second chapter he earned the patient way. It is a clean, satisfying story for any Mets follower who remembers his early promise. The numbers look different now, the outlook looks brighter, and Anthony Kay returns as a pitcher who wrote his way back.