Carrasco making transition to his new organization

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — One of baseball’s best comeback stories is getting familiar with his new surroundings.

Carlos Carrasco spent 11 years — his entire major-league baseball career — with the Cleveland Indians organization, before the Mets acquired him in a blockbuster trade that included his superstar teammate, Francisco Lindor. Carrasco overcame his toughest life challenge in Cleveland when he was diagnosed with leukemia in 2019. His teammates, coaches and front office rallied behind the righthander to ensure he wouldn’t miss a beat.

But last month, Carrasco learned his comfortable atmosphere would be swapped for a brand-new team with unfamiliar faces competing in a different division than what he spent over a decade getting used to. Instead of being rattled by all the new changes, Carrasco is embarking on his new assignment with a quiet comfort and noticeable enthusiasm.

“I’ve been playing this game for a long time,” Carrasco said on Saturday. “The only difference is the name. It’s the same baseball.”

Carrasco arrived at Mets camp on Friday after missing a weekplus of spring training workouts. In lieu of his recovery from leukemia, his doctors wanted him to receive the COVID-19 vaccine (which he did) along with extra examinations on his heart. The added checkups ended up delaying his arrival to Port St. Lucie.

The catch-up time is expected to cause Carrasco to miss one start in exhibition games this spring, but he said he will be on time and fully prepared to make his turn in the rotation come Opening Day.

“I’m so happy to be here with my teammates, and even with Lindor too,” Carrasco said. “Just getting around to everyone. Everyone has kind of been special for me and has welcomed me to the team. It was really nice.”

Carrasco, who has a 3.77 career ERA and 1.196 WHIP, will play a major role in the rotation as Steve Cohen’s Mets compete in a cutthroat NL East. Carrasco figures to be their No. 2 starter — behind Jacob deGrom — with Marcus Stroman and Taijuan Walker following. David Peterson and Joey Lucchesi are competing for a spot in the back end of the rotation until Noah Syndergaard is expected to return from his Tommy John rehab in June.