New York Mets Pitcher Joey Lucchesi Makes History vs. San Francisco Giants

New York Mets starting pitcher Joey Lucchesi made some history on Friday night with a dominant outing against the San Francisco Giants. He tossed seven scoreless innings with nine strikeouts. In doing so, he became only the second player in the last 60 years to miss an entire season and then come back with nine or more strikeouts in his first outing back. Matt Harvey, also of the Mets, is the other.

New York Mets starting pitcher Joey Lucchesi had a great 'welcome back to the big leagues' performance on Friday night against the San Francisco Giants.

The lefty, who missed nearly the last two full years after undergoing Tommy John Surgery, was dominant over seven innings. He gave up just four hits, no runs, two walks and struck out nine.

In doing so, he made some history:

@OptaSTATS tweeted out: In the last 60 years, only two MLB pitchers have missed an entire season and then tossed a scoreless outing with 9+ strikeouts in their first game back.

In the last 60 years, only two MLB pitchers have missed an entire season and then tossed a scoreless outing with 9+ strikeouts in their first game back.

Both of them did so for the @Mets:

Matt Harvey (April 9, 2015)
Joey Lucchesi (tonight)

— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) April 22, 2023

Being mentioned in the same sentence as Harvey is a good thing in Mets lore, as he was revered by fans before injuries sapped him of a promising career.

Lucchesi has his own promising career that he's trying to get back on track. He debuted in 2018 for the San Diego Padres and then started 56 games over the 2018-19 seasons for San Diego. He won nine games the first year and 10 the second.

He was dealt to the Mets in the offseason before the 2021 season and was 1-4 before getting injured and missing all of 2022.

Lucchesi could get a chance to stick in the rotation for a bit as the team is still dealing with injures to Justin Verlander and Carlos Carrasco, who you can read up on here. They also will be missing Max Scherzer, who is suspended for 10 games for a sticky stuff violation.

The Mets and Giants will play again today at 4:05 p.m. ET.