NEW YORK (AP) - Left-handed Brandon Waddell is expected to make his first appearance in nearly four years, with the New York Mets convening the Triple-A Syracuse for a match against the Arizona Diamondbacks Wednesday night.
New York has rescuer Huascar Brazobán as the opening game for the second time this season, with Waddell waiting for hope to absorb several innings.
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"A man who is more like a prone state. You know, move the ball. Strike thrower. He has been in professional baseball for a long time and he will play a big role in this game today," said manager Carlos Mendoza.
Brazobán and Waddell lined up so that New York could provide the usual break for No. 1 Kodai Senga before he picked up the ball in Thursday's series.
The Mets, the major league leader, also put left-handed reliefist Danny Young on the 15-day injury list and took a bent elbow for Sunday.
It was an out-of-time development as their top left-handed rescuer, AJ Minter, was also at Illinois State after being injured in Washington Saturday, following a serious pressure from left LAT. He had another MRI on Wednesday and had the possibility of end-of-season surgery.
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Mendoza said a decision could be made within a few days. A treatment plan for rest and rehabilitation is still an option - but anyway, the 31-year-old pitcher will be out of service for a long time.
Minter was in the Metropolitan Club Wednesday with her left arm on a sling.
Senior right-hander Chris Devenski was selected from Triple-A, right-hander Kevin Herget was selected for Syracuse, and left Brooks Raley was transferred to the 60-day IL.
Raley, who recovered from elbow surgery last May, was re-signed on Tuesday for a one-year contract guaranteed $1.85 million. He was throwing a bullpen but was reluctant to join the team for a while.
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The roster of Waddell is the only left-handed in a reliable bullpen in New York.
Waddell turned 31 on June 3, with an ERA of 1-1 in 1.54 in five games in Syracuse, having 21 strikeouts and seven walks in 23 1/3 innings. His most recent major league outing was against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Stadium on July 9, 2021.
He has 0-1 in 11 major league games with 5.68 ERA, all reliefs, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Baltimore and St. Louis starting in 2020-21. He had nine strikeouts and 11 walks in 12 2/3 innings.
Waddell was released by the Cardinal in July 2022 and pitched in South Korea and China for the next 2 1/2 years. He spent 7-4 with KBO's Doosan Bear last season, finishing with 3.12 ERA before signing with the Mets in December.
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After winning the College World Series in Virginia, the Pirates were selected by the Pirates as a 6-foot-3-foot-weight, 180-pound Wadell in the fifth round of the 2015 amateur draft.
In other news, right-hander Paul Blackburn (inflamed right knee) threw a bullpen Tuesday and is scheduled to pitch on Friday in Brooklyn’s Class A rehabilitation outing.
Mendoza also said Brandon Nimmo felt much better, but the left-back fielder withdrew from the starting lineup for the second consecutive night due to club illness at the Mets.
“Hopefully we have a player today,” Mendoza said. "It's not a stomach problem. It's more like flu."
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