The Mets put Jacob deGrom on the 60-day injured list. It’s not as bad as it sounds.
The move, made official on Friday afternoon, does not mean deGrom will miss the next 60 days. He’s simply been transferred to the 60-day IL to clear up a roster spot. He will still be eligible to return on Sept. 13, which is consistent with the messaging that’s been coming from the club since their star pitcher’s elbow became inflamed. He has not pitched since starting the first game of a doubleheader on July 7. Entering Friday’s dance at Dodger Stadium, the Mets are 14-24 in that time span.
Shifting deGrom to the 60-day list opened up a place for Heath Hembree. The Mets announced the signing on Friday, claiming the 32-year-old righty off waivers from Cincinnati. Hembree, a career reliever, spent the biggest chunk of his career in Boston, where he wore a Red Sox hat from 2014 to 2020.
“It’s all because of the roster spot,” manager Luis Rojas said of the deGrom and Hembree moves. “I heard the rumors last night that we were probably going to claim Hembree so that’s where it came from. It doesn’t change the (deGrom injury) progression.”
Hembree’s major league debut came with the Giants in 2013 and 2021 was his first and only season in Cincinnati. He also spent the latter portion of the 2020 season with the Phillies. Rojas said that Hembree is currently home in South Carolina, meaning it’s unlikely he joins the team in Los Angeles. Rather, it’s more likely that he’ll be there in New York when the Mets begin their home series with the Giants on Tuesday.
“Flying across the nation from South Carolina wasn’t realistic,” Rojas said. “We’ll probably be more clear about it (Saturday).”
In 42 1/3 innings for the Reds this year, Hembree posted a 6.38 ERA but had much better peripheral stats. He struck out 38.0% of all hitters, good for a ridiculous 14.46 per nine innings. Among relievers who have chucked at least 40 innings, Hembree’s K/9 ratio ranks sixth in Major League Baseball. The strikeout numbers are a career best for Hembree, as are the eight saves he racked up. Walks have always been an issue for the South Carolina native, and this year is no different. Nineteen walks in 42 1/3 innings is enough to make any manager antsy. So are the 10 home runs. The Mets are clearly banking on this analytics darling being able to work with their staff to maximize his fastball-slider combo.
Those are pretty much Hembree’s only two pitches. He throws the fastball — which averages 95.3 miles per hour — on 51.3% of his pitches. The slider is close behind with a 48.1% usage and has accounted for 44 of his 68 strikeouts this season. Batters are hitting .163 in plate appearances that end with a Hembree slider.
Should the Mets miraculously make the postseason, they’ll have another pitcher who’s experienced on the game’s biggest stage. Hembree won a championship with the 2018 Red Sox, making four scoreless appearances during the playoff run, including an inning in the World Series.
