It's make or break time for John Curtiss in Mets camp this spring

Last April the New York Mets took a gamble on a relief pitcher coming off of Tommy John surgery in John Curtiss and signed him to a Major League deal with a team option for 2023. That option that was picked up is worth $775,000 and after a full year of rehab, this spring is now the 29-year-old right-hander's time to shine.

Curtiss was put on the radar back in 2020 with the Tampa Bay Rays after posting a stellar 1.80 ERA in 17 relief appearances, The following season with both the Miami Marlins and Milwaukee Brewers he had posted a 3.45 ERA in 41 appearances before tearing his UCL in his pitching elbow on August 11th.

The Mets will be looking at John Curtiss as a potential solution to their bullpen situation this spring

The Mets arguably have at least two bullpen spots up for grabs this spring and with a strong performance in camp, Curtiss could find himself heading back north with the team. Over his five Major League seasons, Curtiss has posted a solid 2.5 walks-per-nine-innings and a great 9.0 strikeouts-per-nine-innings which shows his great command and ability to miss bats at a high rate.

While it's always baby steps for a pitcher coming off of Tommy John surgery, there may not be a better situation for Curtiss to potentially thrive in as he wouldn't be relied upon heavily in high-leverage situations early on in the season. The Mets have done a great job this offseason solidifying the back end of the bullpen with Edwin Diaz, David Robertson, and Adam Ottavino.

After waiting for a year to see Curtiss on the mound, the Mets brass will have a close eye on his progress from Tommy John surgery, as well as his performance during camp this spring. Now is the time for Curtiss to make a strong impression after a year on the shelf and he has the opportunity to be a difference-maker out of the bullpen this season.