1 Mets player who wasn't very good in 2022 but should be much better in 2023

There’s something about Tylor Megill that has many of us thinking, or maybe just hoping, for better days ahead. The way he burst onto the scene in 2021 in such an unexpected manner makes him one of those scrappy New York Mets players fans seem to love no matter what.

Now after 137 big league innings, 27 starts, and 6 relief appearances, Megill is 8-8 with a 4.73 ERA. He wasn’t particularly good in 2022 either. Despite starting the no-hitter for the Mets, he was 4-2 with a 5.13 ERA on the season. He missed a lot of time, too, and saw his numbers really worsen when he was tagged for 8 earned runs in only 1.1 innings of work against the Washington Nationals prior to an IL stint.

Megill wasn’t very good in 2022. He should be better in 2023.

Mets pitcher Tylor Megill didn’t have an opportunity to save his season

When Megill came back for good later in the year, the Mets had only one way to use him: relief. Megill wasn’t particularly effective out of the bullpen, but the 6 innings in 6 appearances isn’t nearly enough to define what he could be as a reliever moving forward.

Naming Megill one of the team’s starting five in 2023 would probably mean someone is injured. It shouldn’t be a part of Billy Eppler’s dream scenario for the roster. As the Mets showed last offseason, they would prefer to have veterans in the role yet are willing to give big innings to the younger folks who deserve them when needed.

Megill is right there with David Peterson on the depth chart—that’s if neither is traded. The pair went into spring training last season in a competition. Megill won with the Opening Day starter job thrown his way due to Jacob deGrom’s late spring injury. However, it was Peterson who shined more in 2022 thanks to his ability to bounce between the minors and majors all throughout and provide the club with quality starts.

Next season, Megill might not fall into the plan to start the year in the rotation. He should be one of the first to move into a spot due to injury.

In whatever way the team ends up using him, I have enough faith in him to rebound from a season with one great memory and a whole bunch of lost time.