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Bullpens are like opening a pack of baseball cards - you never know what you're gonna get. No matter what a pitcher's track record is, there are always arms that come out of nowhere and surprise us. Last season for the New York Mets, it was 27-year old rookie Dedniel Nunez.
This offseason, the Mets signed A.J. Minter to be their top lefty out of the 'pen. However, Minter may not be ready for Opening Day after undergoing season ending left hip surgery last August. While the Mets still have Danny Young, there is opportunity for under the rader options to emerge as important pieces in the Mets bullpen.
Who are some spring training invitees that may surprisingly contribute to the Mets bullpen in 2025?
1) Brandon Waddell
The 30-year old lefty Brandon Waddell was a fifth round pick in the 2015 draft. He made his MLB debut for the Pirates in 2020, but was waived in the offseason. In 2021, Waddell played in brief stints for the Twins, Orioles, and Cardinals, but was designated for assignment by all them and subsequently released by St. Louis on July 13. Over 12.2 career MLB innings, Waddell pitched to an ERA of 5.68 and a 2.13 WHIP.
From 2022 to 2024, Waddell pitched in the KBO and CPBL for the Doosan Bears and Rakuten Monkeys. Waddell excelled in his 3 seasons in Korea, making 43 starts with an ERA of 2.98 over 244 innings. Waddell kept the ball in the ballpark with a 0.4 HR/9 and only allowed 7.8 H/9.
A fastball/slider pitcher, clearly Stearns sees something in Waddell that warranted bringing him back to America, and could be the lefty out of the 'pen to start 2025.