Sean Manaea looked the best he has in quite some time during Tuesday evening's Grapefruit League tilt against the Miami Marlins.
Feb 17, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea works during spring training at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Sean Manaea looked the best he has in quite some time during Tuesday evening’s Grapefruit League tilt against the Miami Marlins.
He retired each of the 12 batters he faced across four perfect innings and struck out four — a promising result after last year’s injury-shortened debacle raised questions about his reliability moving forward. “I felt really good out there,” Manaea said. “I thought all of my pitches worked. I was throwing them for strikes, and we mixed really well. It was just about getting ahead and attacking, and overall, I felt healthy, so it was a good day.” The velocity on his fastball, though, has yet to come around. His four-seamer averaged a tick over 88 mph and failed to hit 90 mph. Last year, that pitch“I think it’s in there,” manager Carlos Mendoza said of Manaea’s velocity. “But it’s probably gonna take some time.” The veteran southpaw maintained that it will likely come once the regular season starts, and the “adrenaline” of pitching at Citi Field provides a bit more juice to his arsenal. He has one more spring start later this week before the 2026 season officially begins on March 26 in Queens against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Another strong outing would ease some of the uncertainties surrounding him, as he will initially be relied upon to bolster the bottom of New York’s six-man rotation. After being a second-half and postseason hero two years ago, Manaea was a shell of himself after starting the season in July. He posted a 5.64 ERA in 15 appearances. “He’s a guy we missed , and we felt it,” Mendoza said. “He’s one of those guys who can carry a team. When he’s throwing well, he takes pride in going deep in games and giving the team a chance to win. He’s a big part of what we’re doing here.”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.Mets bounceback candidates Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea to make spring training debutsOffsides at City Hall? MTA boss says he wasn’t approached about Mamdani’s reported World Cup fare free bus pilot pitchJosh Hart’s rare, big scoring night propels Knicks to win over IndyBad Bunny lookalike contest brings energy back to the HubMassive rooftop fire in Midtown Manhattan just blocks away from St. Patrick’s Day Parade route
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Mets Urged to Start Outfield Prospect on Opening DayThe New York Mets have to sort out their last outfield spot, but one insider believes it should be an easy choice.
Read more »
A clicking Francisco Alvarez could be difference-maker for Mets lineupA healthy Francisco Alvarez would go a long way in fixing that in 2026.
Read more »
Why Nolan McLean Is Starting for Team USA in World Baseball Classic FinalYoung Mets pitcher will be on the mound for the final vs. Venezuela.
Read more »
The Mets’ Biggest Concern Heading Into the 2026 SeasonDespite his velocity still being down this spring, Sean Manaea is confident it won't be a problem in the regular season.
Read more »
Craig Kimbrel's velocity remains concern as Mets roster decisions loomObservations from Mets spring training on Tuesday.
Read more »
Mets' Sean Manaea still 'not concerned' about lack of velocityThe speed of Sean Manea’s four-seam fastball remained in the 86-88 mph range, down about 3 mph from a year ago.
Read more »