NY Mets prospect lost last December is back with a major question mark

It feels like only yesterday the name Nate Lavender was the latest New York Mets prospect many had penciled in for some relief innings. After 7 innings for Syracuse in 2024, he followed a similar pattern as big league southpaw Brooks Raley who went down with Tommy John surgery early. The Mets left him unprotected in December’s Rule 5 Draft, losing him to the Tampa Bay Rays who stashed him on the 60-day IL for a year.

A bone spur removed from his left elbow in August added to the growing list of injuries. The road to recovery only got worse and rather than invest any more time in him, the Rays have sent Lavender back to the Mets.

Nate Lavender is back with the Mets and now it’s a question of health

The Mets have been brutally patient with injured pitchers at all levels. They waited years on Matt Allan only for him to get released earlier this month. More in the same category as Lavender, Bryce Montes De Oca also became a free agent. They have some major decisions with players like Tylor Megill, Reed Garrett, and others this offseason. After paying Drew Smith to rehab last year only to release him as well, they’re likely to handle it on a player-by-player basis.

Lavender’s minor league numbers have been strong, posting a 2.41 ERA overall in 115.2 innings of work, all with the Mets. His last full season in 2023 saw him climb from High-A to Double-A. Most of the season was spent with Binghamton where he had a 3.27 ERA and spectacular 13.7 K/9 rate. It did come with control issues, walking 4.7 per 9 in those 44 frames.

As young as the offseason is, the Mets have done a superb job at adding to their lefty reliever depth. Richard Lovelady doesn’t get anyone excited nor should we jump for joy over the waiver claim of Jose Castillo. Joe Jacques was their first signing, taking place in mid-October. Those big-league experienced southpaws will be in line to scratch out innings in case of emergency, namely if they lose Raley or A.J. Minter to injury.

Lavender can be safely stashed in the minors this year which wasn’t the case for the Rays who would have had to keep him on their active 26-man roster for the full season because he was a Rule 5 pick. It’s a small win for the Mets who learned the hard way last year the value of lefty reliever depth. Already, with Lavender being the third reunion, they’re feeling more equipped.