Dowdy on mission to stick with Mets
PORT ST. LUCIE — Kyle Dowdy’s “crazy” seven months have taken him from the Tigers to the Indians to the Mets. And if the 26-year-old pitcher doesn’t excel this spring, there is a good chance he will be on the move again.
As a Rule 5 draft pick, Dowdy must be placed on the Mets’ Opening Day roster (and remain there for the season) or offered back to the Indians, so the righthander will receive careful consideration in the Grapefruit League.
Dowdy could be considered for the rotation if there is an injury, otherwise he is auditioning for the bullpen.
“They kind of have conveyed they want to keep their options open with me, which makes sense, you want to hedge your bets all you can,” Dowdy said Sunday. “Hopefully our starting staff stays healthy because I think it’s a winning one if everybody is healthy.”
In 30 appearances in the minors last season, he pitched to a 5.15 ERA and 1.48 WHIP. The Tigers traded Dowdy to the Indians in July and he was then left unprotected for the Rule 5 draft.
But the Mets are taking a low-risk gamble that improvements to Dowdy’s delivery last season that increased his velocity — from 91-92 mph to 96-97, according to manager Mickey Callaway — will reap benefits.
“He’s going to get to pitch,” Callaway said. “I think we have to give him every opportunity to show what he can do. He’s got some special tools — he can really spin the ball, he’s got a great slider, he’s got some velo that rides through the zone.
“This kid is the first one to the ballpark every morning and he’s the last one to usually leave. So he’s on a mission and he’s a special kid makeup wise, you can already tell that.”
➤ Before the Mets’ first full-squad workout on Monday, both Callaway and general manager Brodie
Van Wagenen are expected to address the team.
“Brodie is going to have a lot of energy and we’re definitely going to talk about winning,” Callaway said. “That’s what we expect, that is what we are here to do, so we’re going to be talking about that every day, but we’ll definitely hit on that topic in our first meeting.”
➤ Jacob deGrom was among the pitchers to throw live batting practice Sunday. The reigning National League Cy Young award winner twice faced
Peter Alonso, whose contact against deGrom was limited to three foul balls.