Mets fans, you might want to look away for a moment.
Freddy Peralta has been named the Most Valuable Player of the American League Championship Series after the Rays secured their place in the World Series on Monday by defeating the Guardians 7-3 in Game 6 at Tropicana Field.
The former Mets pitcher gave up just one run over 12 innings during his three appearances in the ALCS.
On Monday night, he pitched 5 ⅓ innings in the decisive game and left the field to a warm ovation from the home crowd.
It’s quite a turn of events considering that back in July, Peralta was struggling with a 4.99 ERA over 22 starts with the Mets. He was traded to the Rays at the deadline for three prospects, and his debut in Tampa Bay didn’t start off well — allowing seven runs on nine hits against the Rockies. However, he quickly found his footing with his new team.
When Lauren Shehadi asked what he would have thought back in July if someone had predicted he’d be the ALCS MVP, Peralta said he probably would have replied, “You’re crazy.”
He expressed his joy, stating, “This is crazy and I am very happy to be here, to be part of this great group and this fantastic organization. This isn’t just mine; we all earned this. This is for the boys.”
Throughout the playoffs, he has recorded a 1.08 ERA, allowing only two earned runs.
Reflecting on his transition to the Rays compared to his time with the Mets, Peralta credited the coaching staff for making a positive difference in his performance.
“The first thing was praying every day, as always, praying to God and asking to keep me humble, keep me on my feet, because you never know what can happen during tough times,” he shared about his challenges and the trade. “I think when I got traded and came here, everything changed.”
He emphasized how grateful he is for the support from the coaches, saying, “It’s something that I never want to forget in life. I’m very thankful to have people like that here—people I hadn’t met before that now feel like family.”
Before joining the Rays through an offseason trade with Milwaukee, Peralta had a disappointing season with the Mets, finishing with a 5-9 record and a 4.99 ERA over 22 starts.
Now, the Rays are set to face his old team, the Brewers, in the World Series, which kicks off on Friday in Milwaukee.
