The Mets have had some surprising moments during this 2024 season and the biggest surprise is probably Reed Garrett. The team’s bullpen has been one of their biggest strengths to begin this year. Sure, the return of closer Edwin Diaz has a big part in it. But Garrett is also having a big say in it so far.
So far this season, Garrett is 5-0 with a 0.57 ERA. He is the first Mets pitcher to go 5-0 in the team’s first 27 games since Bartolo Colon.
Garrett also picked up his first career save on April 20 on the road versus the Dodgers. He struck out the side in that ninth inning, showing that he can pitch under pressure. Getting to the strikeouts, Garrett has totaled 28 Ks so far with only 7 BB in 15.2 IP. Finally, opponents are only hitting .151 against him.
What’s even more amazing, is prior to 2024, Garrett never finished a year with an ERA lower 5.00 in his first three seasons in the major leagues. Last year with the Mets, Garrett posted a 5.82 ERA.
The question is: Will Garrett keep up his dominant pitching for the rest of this year? With how his major league career has gone prior to this season, many are expecting a drop off in his numbers.
But I believe that Garrett’s splendid and surprising start is no fluke and that it can carry on for the remainder of 2024.
First, Garrett has been throwing his secondary pitches more. He throws a fastball in the mid-90s. But he also has a splitter that he’s been using more often and with great effectiveness. With that splitter, Garrett has not only become more difficult to hit, but he has racked up the Ks too.
It’s just a month into the regular season and Garrett will have to keep it up for the final five months of the season. But with his improved stuff, Garrett seems a good bet to be a key member of the bullpen moving forward.