ATLANTA — Tyler Jay has been thinking “probably almost every day” for the past five years about whether this opportunity would ever come his way.
But it was Jay, 29, who was called up from the bullpen in the eighth inning Thursday at Trust Park.
The left-handed relief pitcher pitched the final two innings of the Mets’ 16-4 victory over the Braves, allowing one earned run on five hits and one walk in his MLB debut.
Jay, a first-round draft pick by the Twins in 2015, put his pitching career on hold five years ago when he was diagnosed with an allergic disease that causes inflammation of the esophagus and causes significant weight loss.
The only baseball opportunity he found after returning home was playing for the Joliet Slammers of the independent Frontier League.
Jay spent two seasons with Joliet, then signed with the Mets and was assigned to Triple-A Syracuse. He was selected to the roster on Wednesday to give the Mets bullpen depth.
On Thursday, he received the victory belt given to the pitcher of the game.
“I got married in 2021 and have two daughters who are 4 months old,” Jay said. “They get to know that ‘Dad never quits.’ That means a lot to me.”
Jay said he was nervous heading to the mound for the first time in a major league game, but as always, he reminded himself that the distance to home plate was 60 feet, 6 inches.
“It’s a good way to test yourself,” Jay said of playing against the dangerous Braves lineup. “If you’re going to get up and do it, it’s pretty special to play against a team like that.”
Manager Carlos Mendoza wasn’t ready to announce Sunday’s starting pitcher.
Luis Severino and Sean Manaea are scheduled to play in the next two games against the Royals, and team officials are giving Adrian Houser an extra day of rest and will insert Jose Buttto as Sunday’s starter. I was considering what to do.
But if Hauser pitches in his regular slot, there will be an vacancy left on Monday, by which time top pitching prospect Christian Scott will be fully rested.
Scott had 19 strikeouts in nine innings in his two starts for Syracuse.
Mendoza wouldn’t say whether Scott is a candidate for the Mets’ rotation, but said the right-hander is drawing attention.
“We’re keeping an eye on it,” Mendoza said. “When that player is pitching the way he throws, it’s hard not to pay attention to him. Another impressive outing for him. [Wednesday]. We saw that in one of the starts at major league camp. He has a really good fastball that catches hitters, plays up with a low release, and we’re keeping an eye on him. ”
The Mets announced that Julio Teheran has selected free agency. The veteran right-hander was designated for assignment Tuesday, a day after allowing four earned runs in 2/3 innings in his Mets debut.
The Mets traded reliever Johan Ramirez to the Orioles for cash consideration.
