DUNEDIN, Fla. — A Promising Start for Tobias Myers
Tobias Myers showcased his potential on Monday, impressing during his first outing with the Mets.
After joining the team from Milwaukee in the offseason, the Mets were keen to emphasize that Myers isn’t just another player in the trade for Freddy Peralta. They had a strategic goal here, especially to fill the gap left by top prospect Brandon Sproat, who was sent to the Brewers.
In a game against Toronto, Myers pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings. The Mets won the game 4-3, and he didn’t issue a single walk while tallying three strikeouts.
This performance was crucial for Myers, who is anticipated to take on a multi-inning role this season. He used this opportunity to experiment with some new pitches he’s been working on over the past year.
Among these is a splitter he introduced late last season, which he’s still honing, alongside a slider he recently developed under the guidance of pitching coach Justin Willard.
“I threw my slider well today,” Myers shared, adding somewhat playfully, “They probably think it’s a pretty big curveball, which I’d love to get right.”
Myers has a strong belief that the splitter will be more effective for him than the changeup he previously relied on.
While he noted that his pitches aren’t similar to teammate Kodai Chiga’s well-known Ghost Fork, he acknowledged the advantage of being surrounded by seasoned pitchers like Chiga and Clay Holmes, who are adept at commanding the ball.
The Mets have indicated that Myers will start the season on the major league roster, whether in the rotation or the bullpen. There’s even a chance he could start during spring training, especially since Holmes and Nolan McLean will be participating in the World Baseball Classic.
Manager Carlos Mendoza is clearly impressed with what he’s seen so far, particularly the “life force” in Myers’ fastball.
A Strong Presence: Nick Morabito
Nick Morabito also made his mark in Monday’s game. The outfielder, who played the previous season at Double-A Binghamton, hit an RBI double off Jose Berrios and made a notable running catch on a fly ball from Dalton Varsho down the left field line.
Mendoza praised Morabito, calling him a “baseball player.” He highlighted Morabito’s defensive skills and ability at the plate, noting that he consistently puts the ball in play and runs the bases effectively. “He can win games,” Mendoza added.
It seems the Mets are adopting a more aggressive approach with base-stealing early in spring training. Mendoza indicated this will likely continue, saying, “We’re always going to be aggressive, especially when the situation presents itself. We have the human resources.”
