A little more than a decade later, Anthony Kay’s Mets career has finally come full circle. He made his debut in orange and blue against the Philadelphia Phillies on September 24, pitching in relief for a struggling José Butto. The lefty pitched 1 2/3 innings without allowing a hit or a run and struck out Brandon Marsh and Jake Cave.
When asked about his return to the Mets organization after being claimed off waivers from the Cubs on September 14, Kay noted, “This is our third try now. I feel like we’re in a bad relationship at this point, so hopefully this one ends a little bit better.” Originally drafted in round 29, Kay, a Long Island product, did not sign. He went on to play for the Connecticut Huskies and the Mets drafted him once more in 2016 with their first-round selection.
"This is our third try now. I feel like we are in a bad relationship at this point, so hopefully this one ends a little bit better than the first two tries. Everything's been great, this is awesome"
– Anthony Kay on getting another chance with the Mets pic.twitter.com/vcVaAK5SJt
— SNY (@SNYtv) September 24, 2023
The Mets traded him to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2019 for starter Marcus Stroman, and Kay’s career trajectory was never quite the same. He struggled mightily in the majors while bouncing from the Blue Jays to the Cubs, compiling a career 5.60 ERA in 82 innings pitched with 85 strikeouts, 46 walks and 53 runs allowed.
In the minors this season, Kay has pitched to an impressive 3.76 ERA in 40.2 innings, allowing 22 runs, with only 17 of those earned. What’s improved drastically is his strikeout-to-walk ratio. He’s allowed 23 walks but punched out 58 batters. Originally a starter, Kay transitioned to a relief role where he’s been able to hone in on his craft. He nixed his curveball from his repertoire in favor of a cutter and slider, which have attributed to a higher percentage of swing and misses. In his appearance on September 24, Kay had a 60% swing rate on pitches outside the zone, his highest of the season.
Anthony Kay’s first two appearances since joining Triple-A Syracuse after being claimed off waivers:
– 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 SO
– 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 SOHe’s got a 3.76 ERA & 58 strikeouts across 40.2 Triple-A innings this year. Hitters only batting .200 against him.#Mets
— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) September 22, 2023
With just a handful of games left to play in 2023, Kay still has a minor league option, something the Mets have valued in the past with their pitching. If he continues to put up good numbers in the remaining games and performs well come spring, Kay has a solid chance to compete for a spot in the 2024 bullpen. With Brooks Raley the only reliable lefty, Kay can complement him nicely and be a weapon for the Mets to use in key situations.
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