QUEENS, NY — Mets reliever Drew Smith told amNewYork on Wednesday that he threw 10 pitches 'halfway up the mound' for the first time as he continues his
Jun 17, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Drew Smith delivers a pitch to the Texas Rangers during the ninth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports Mets reliever Drew Smith told amNewYork on Wednesday that he threw 10 pitches “halfway up the mound” for the first time as he continues his rehabilitation process from Tommy John surgery he underwent in July.
The 31-year-old right-hander has been participating in catches at 120 feet two to three times a week “for the last few weeks.” The hope is that he can throw from the top of the mound within the next two to three weeks.Should he continue on this trajectory, there is an additional hope that he can begin participating in rehab assignments “later this summer.” “Obviously, the timelines are fluid after undergoing Tommy John surgery,” he added. “But I have already gone through this once before, so I kind of know what to expect.” Smith underwent a first Tommy John procedure that held him out for the entire 2019 season, and appeared in 19 games last year before suffering severe ligament damage in late June.and a 1.520 WHIP with 23 strikeouts in 2024. In six healthy campaigns with New York, he owns a career 3.48 ERA with a 9.3 K/9 ratio.Mar 17, 2025; Jupiter, Florida, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Paul Blackburn pitches against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images Starting pitcher Paul Blackburn’s next rehab start will be on Friday with Double-A Binghamton, president of baseball operations David Stearns disclosed on Wednesday The veteran right-hander, who is recovering from knee inflammation, threw 60 pitches on Sunday with Triple-A Syracuse, and the next step is for him to reach the 75-pitch mark. Even if he does, he will most likely need one more rehab start after that before potentially rejoining the team. What his role will be remains to be seen. He was slated to begin the 2025 season in the bullpen when he lost out on a bottom-of-the-rotation job to Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning, but Stearns stressed the need for him to build up to a starter’s workload. “He may not immediately slot into the rotation, but if we don’t get him built back up to the full starter workload now, we have no shot of doing that if he goes into the bullpen when he comes back,” Stearns said. “We think having him build up to that length is important. “Where exactly he fits in when he’s ready is going to be dependent on team need. If we have an injury in the rotation, he can certainly slot back into the rotation. If not, it’s going to be the role we thought it was going to be coming out of camp, which is that long guy.”Joe Pantorno has been the executive sports editor of amNewYork since 2020. He covers the New York Mets and is a member of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America . He is also a member of the Pro Hockey Writers’ Association and has covered the New York Islanders for nearly a decade. His previous stops include Bleacher Report and Metro New York, while his work has been featured in the New York Post, Newsday, and Yahoo! Sports.Family of Bronx teen killed by stray bullet says they want to keep her memory alive as funeral date is setAirport workers at JFK and LaGuardia win expanded benefits under state budgetMets’ Ronny Mauricio to stay in minors ‘until we have a need’Celebrate spring at NYC’s only sheep shearing festival this Sunday at Queens County FarmFamily of Bronx teen killed by stray bullet says they want to keep her memory alive as funeral date is setafter stranger tried to shoot her in the head on street
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