New York Mets Demote Struggling Starting Pitcher to Minor Leagues

The New York Mets have demoted one of their struggling starting pitchers to the minor leagues.
Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

He's going down.

On Thursday's off day, the New York Mets demoted struggling starting pitcher Tylor Megill to Triple-A Syracuse.

The Mets will replace Megill on the roster with reliever Vinny Nittoli, who they recently acquired via trade from the Chicago Cubs.

In his latest start on Wednesday, which came against the Houston Astros, Megill gave up five runs, four earned, and walked four across just 2.1 innings.

Megill has battled consistency and command issues this season, posting a 5.17 ERA and 1.67 WHIP in 15 starts this year.

“(He is) focusing too much on his mechanics. … He just needs to get back to who he was, just throwing the baseball,” Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner said of Megill's latest outing.

Megill was in line to take the mound against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday. Megill's brother, Trevor, was also sent down to the minor leagues by the Brewers on Thursday.

While It's unknown, who will take the right-hander's spot in the rotation, Joey Lucchesi makes the most sense. 

Lucchesi recently won the honor of International League Pitcher of the Week for retiring 22 of the 24 batters he faced in a recent outing.

Lucchesi holds a 1.32 ERA with 15 strikeouts across 13.2 innings his last two starts for Triple-A Syracuse. 

In five starts for the Mets this season, Lucchesi is 1-0 with a 4.43 ERA, 95 ERA+, 1.343 WHIP and 17 strikeouts across 22.1 innings. 

The Mets will need Lucchesi or someone else to take Megill's spot until Jose Quintana (rib surgery) is ready to rejoin the big-league rotation. Quintana recently began a rehab assignment and has hurled two outings thus far. But he will likely need a few more before being deemed ready to come off the IL.


Published
Pat Ragazzo
PAT RAGAZZO

Pat Ragazzo is the main publisher and reporter for the Mets and Yankees On SI sites. He has been covering the Mets since 2018 and Yankees since 2021. Pat was selected as The Top Reporter & Publisher of the Year 2024 by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) for outstanding leadership, dedication, and commitment to the industry. He has appeared on several major TV Networks including: NBC4, CBS2, FOX5, PIX11 and NY1; and is a recurring guest on ESPN New York 880 AM and WFAN Sports Radio 101.9 FM. Pat is also the Mets insider for Barstool Sports personality Frank "The Tank" Fleming’s podcast. You can follow him on Twitter/X and Instagram: @ragazzoreport.