A.J. Minter Nears Mets’ Opening Day Roster Spot One Final Test Remains
A.J. Minter is just one step away from securing his place on the Mets’ Opening Day roster.
During Saturday’s 5-5 draw against the Washington Nationals, Minter delivered a flawless inning, striking out one batter in the process. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was impressed, saying the left-hander “looked really good.”
However, Mendoza stopped short of confirming Minter’s spot for the team’s March 27 opener against the Astros in Houston. Before locking in his place, Minter must take the mound again on Monday his second appearance in three days. If he emerges healthy, Mendoza sees no further need for evaluation.
“We’ll check in with him, see how he’s feeling,” Mendoza said. “If he’s in a good spot, that’ll be enough for us.”
So far in Grapefruit League action, Minter has allowed two earned runs over 3 2/3 innings (4.91 ERA) across four appearances. Both runs came in his third outing against the Houston Astros at CACTI Park, while his other three outings were spotless.
The Mets acquired Minter from the Atlanta Braves this offseason, signing him to a two-year, $22 million contract with an opt-out after the first year.
A former second-round pick by the Braves in the 2015 MLB Draft, Minter spent his entire career in Atlanta before this move. Since cementing his role in the Braves’ bullpen in 2018, he has been one of the league’s premier setup men, ranking in the top third in ERA (3.29), FIP (2.98), strikeouts (396), and fWAR (6.4) during that stretch.
Last season, Minter pitched 39 games, allowing just 10 earned runs across 34 1/3 innings (2.62 ERA) with 35 strikeouts. While his strikeout percentage dipped from 31.5% in 2023 to 26.1%, the Mets have a track record of helping pitchers rediscover their form.
Now, all that stands between Minter and Opening Day is one last test on Monday.
