You believe this?
Mets call-up in ‘disbelief’ he’ll make start
Drew Gagnon had plans to visit the Grand Canyon with his fiancée during the Triple-A All-Star break, but instead he’ll get a firsthand view of the depths of the Mets.
After eight seasons in the minors, the 28-year-old righthander will make his major league debut Tuesday night starting for the Mets against the Phillies at Citi Field.
“I was kind of in disbelief,” Gagnon said Monday before the Mets’ doubleheader. “It still didn’t hit me at the time, but I’m here now, so it’s real.”
The Mets will need to clear spots on both the 25- and 40man rosters to make room for Gagnon, who will square off against Enyel De Los Santos, a 22-year-old righty also making his big league debut.
In 17 starts this season with Triple-A Las Vegas, Gagnon was 1-4 with a 4.67 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP, 99 strikeouts and 31 walks across 96 ¹/3 innings. He has a career 4.78 ERA in the minor leagues after originally being the Brewers’ third-round pick out of Long Beach State in 2011. He signed a minor league deal with the Mets in December.
“He’s been pitching really good in Triple-A,” manager Mickey Callaway said. “Really good changeup. He’s very aggressive with his fastball. He throws it in the zone. We talked about it [Sunday]. These guys that come up here, they need to throw the ball over the plate.”
P.J. Conlon was thought to be the front-runner to make the spot start Tuesday, but instead he was recalled Monday for a relief option in the doubleheader. He was not used.
Gagnon said he’ll be rebooking the Grand Canyon trip, but will have his fiancée, parents and three sisters in attendance Tuesday.
“Long, but well worth it,” Gagnon said of his journey. “You put the work in, it will pay off no matter what you do.”
The California native described himself as a pitcher that leans on his command and mixes speeds instead of trying to overpower batters, all while working down in the zone.
“You learn at Vegas, obviously you keep it up, the ball goes out,” Gagnon said. “So you learn how to pitch there.”