After parting ways with manager Carlos Mendoza on Friday morning, the Mets made a flurry of smaller roster moves. Tyrone Taylor has been activated from the injured list and left-handed-pitcher Zach Thornton has been recalled from Triple-A, while MJ Melendez and right-hander Daniel Duarte were optioned to Triple-A.
Taylor spent exactly one month on the IL with a right hip flexor strain. In four rehab games with Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse over the past week, Taylor went 7-for-15 with two
homers and six runs batted in. He was slashing .186/.210/.320 before getting injured, and notably posting defensive metrics well below his career norms (-1 Outs Above Average and -1 Arm Value).
A fifth-round pick in the 2023 Draft, and Amazin’ Avenue’s No. 14 preseason prospect, Thornton made his big-league debut at Nationals Park on May 20 – allowing four earned runs in 4.1 innings of work. The 24-year-old holds a 4.25 ERA in 55.0 IP this season between Binghamton and Syracuse.
Duarte has made three appearances with the Mets this year, most recently on June 14 against the Braves. He’s been awfully effective, allowing no runs, one hit, and one walk while striking out three in five innings of work. The 29-year-old was promoted to the Major League roster on Thursday, and spent one day with the team before being sent back to Syracuse.
Melendez started hot for the Mets, posting a 1.024 OPS through his first 16 games after being promoted on April 15. But he’s been mired in a slump since then, batting just .123 with a .495 OPS.
The Mets will look to find a spark with their new roster pieces (and their new interim manager, Andy Green) during a three-game set with the Phillies this weekend at Citi Field. The series opener is Friday night at 7:10 p.m. ET, with the ever-fearsome Zack Wheeler on the mound for Philadelphia.
