Sean Manaea Unfazed by Velocity Drop in Spring Debut for Mets

In his first Grapefruit League start of the season, Sean Manaea showcased resilience despite experiencing a notable drop in velocity. The left-handed pitcher, who faced challenges last year due to an oblique strain and elbow issues, saw his four-seam fastball and sinker dip by more than 3 mph compared to last year during Friday’s outing against the Marlins. However, Manaea remained unconcerned, attributing the numbers to the “weird mound” at Roger Dean Stadium and the fact that it was his initial appearance against an opposing team.

“Some pitches need a little work, but I feel healthy and for the most part I was throwing strikes,” Manaea reflected on his three-inning performance, where he allowed only one hit—a home run by Connor Norby in the bottom of the first. He threw 33 pitches in total, with 19 finding the strike zone. Manaea expressed satisfaction with his changeup and cutter, which caught the attention of manager Carlos Mendoza, who noted the cutter’s effective movement against right-handed batters.

Addressing the velocity drop, Mendoza emphasized his cautious approach. “I’m not gonna make too much of the first one. He says he feels really good physically,” Mendoza stated. Manaea is also working on adjusting his arm slot, aiming for a higher position than the one he utilized last season. “I think I’m good. I feel healthy. I feel strong,” Manaea affirmed, expressing his determination to avoid another stint on the injured list.

Meanwhile, Devin Williams has made a strong impression in the Mets’ bullpen, looking more like the elite closer he was during his early days with the Brewers. After striking out three in an inning earlier in the week, he delivered another scoreless inning on Friday. “He’s pretty elite,” Mendoza remarked, acknowledging the challenges Williams faced last season with the Yankees. “But he figured it out and he’s been that guy.” With Edwin Díaz now with the Dodgers, the Mets are relying heavily on Williams to close games this season.

Mendoza added, “We’ve just got to keep him healthy. I like the fact he’s working on that slider. Maybe that will be a different look for hitters and get them off the fastball and changeup.” The manager expressed confidence in Williams’ ability to handle the closing role, stating, “He’s been in that position and we’re counting on him.”

In other news, right-hander Robert Stock, who impressed during his Grapefruit League debut, has been sidelined due to a shoulder injury. After throwing three scoreless innings against Houston, Stock experienced discomfort following his outing with Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic. Mendoza confirmed that the 36-year-old Stock, signed to a minor league deal for added depth, will be out for the remainder of the tournament as the team assesses the injury’s severity. An MRI was conducted on Friday. Looking ahead, Freddy Peralta is set to start for the Mets on Sunday, while right-hander Dylan Ross has been optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.