The Mets bullpen was all over Tuesday for the first time this season.
The activation of Brad Brach from the injured list provided bull officials with the composition of the bull they predicted before summer camp began, loaded with experienced high-up arms.
Brach, who was sidelined after contracting the coronavirus before the start of the camp, joined Robert Gsellman and Jared Hughes as veterans returning from the IL to join the bullpen mix since the season began.
“I do not know if I would have made a difference at all, but you always think that as a reliever,” Brach said before the Mets met the Nationals at Citi Field.
Brach, who returned to the Mets last offseason on a one-year contract worth $ 850,000 after arriving in August, spent two weeks in quarantine in a hotel room in July after intake tests produced a positive result for the coronavirus . Brach experienced symptoms, and was sidelined from the whole camp.
“There are certain nights when you sit in a hotel room and you feel something in your chest and it’s not normal, even though I felt like I was cold,” Brach said. “You just know that there are underlying problems that can come and go. I was not necessarily scared, but you understand that it can be a life-threatening disease. ”
The IL stint was the first of Brach’s 10-year career in the major leagues. His hope was that he would only need two or three trips to the Mets’ alternative training site in Brooklyn to prepare for the season, but the process took longer than he expected.
‘I’m glad I threw as much as I did when I was home [during baseball’s shutdown], because I think it helped me get back on track a little bit faster, ‘said Brach, a Freehold, NJ native to Monmouth.
“I’m just hope I can get in here and this team can really help win. You know, we have to win some ballgames here, and I’ve seen a lot of them. “
In 16 appearances for the Mets last season, the right-hander stepped up to a 3.68 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. It came after a most underwhelming season for the Cubs, who released him in August.
“He’s another man with experience who throws late in games, he’s good at adapting to rights, apparently really dominant,” said Luis Rojas. ‘But he has that change for lefties too. Definitely can come in in the middle of an inning there and face [anybody], and we’ll be looking for a place where we can use them. ”
Gsellman rejoined the Mets last weekend and set up for the first time in almost a year after missing summer camp with tense triceps. Hughes was activated 1 week ago after also testing positive for the coronavirus before starting camp.
Edwin Diaz, Jeurys Familia, Dellin Betances, Justin Wilson and Seth Lugo are the other key members of the bullpen.
“I’m glad Brad is here with us,” Rojas said. “He adds a more seasonal experience to this season as a boy who can come in and attack right away, get fights.”
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