Each year at 213 we look through the Non-Roster Invitees to spring training and get to know them a bit. Are they in camp to get a look at big league hitting/pitching to aid their development? Are the Mets just trying to get a better look at a future rookie? Are they a veteran trying to get back to the major league level? What can we expect from them this season?
Today’s NRI doesn’t need an introduction, maybe just a re-introduction. It’s New York Mets and (#MetsTwitter) legend Jerry Blevins, who is coming into camp to compete for a lefty bullpen spot. The Mets traded for Jerry right before the start of the 2015 season, sending Matt den Dekker to the Nationals. Blevins spent the next four seasons with the Mets including two amazing years between 2016 and 2017 where he posted a 2.87 ERA over 148 games and 91.0 innings with 121 K’s. During that stretch he had a 143 ERA+ and 1.297 WHIP.
After an average 2018 with the Mets (42.2 IP, 4.85 ERA, 4.96 FIP, 1.359 WHIP and 77 ERA+) he signed with Oakland but made it back to the majors with Atlanta. He posted a 3.90 ERA over 32.1 innings and 45 games with a 1.268 WHIP and 4.61 FIP. BUT he did have a 120 ERA+. He didn’t pitch in the majors at all in 2020.
The rule three batter minimum rule definitely hurts Blevins a bit. But the Mets don’t have a ton of lefty help right now and New York loves Jerry. Here’s what we are looking for in Spring Training – What stats from 2019 were the real stats. On the surface his 2019 looks like 2018 but that ERA+ and drop in WHIP are promising. Plus we would love the Mets a lot more with a lot more Jerry involved.
