Herm Card - 2023 Syracuse Mets Review in Photos - Pitchers

Mike Vasil, Syracuse Mets, Photo by Herm Card

We are very honored here at Mets News and Links to be able to bring some of the great photos from Syracuse Mets games taken by Herm Card.  If you need a photographer in Central NY you can contact Herm at Herm4444@gmail.com.

Herm is also a recent author: "Looking Back...a life with Baseball" available now at Amazon.com. 

The 2023 Syracuse Mets was a year filled with transactions, transactions and even more transactions - 285 in all including 58 different promotions to NY (includes some players promoted, sent down, then promoted again).  

A lot of different pitchers towed the rubber for the 2023 S-Mets and Herm Card was there to photograph them all.  

Here are 16 of the 2023 S-Met pitchers.  Starting with three promising prospects that may soon come to Flushing.

Mike Vasil, Syracuse Mets, Photo by Herm Card

After 10 great starts in Binghamton, Mike Vasil had an uneven time in Syracuse as he struggled to get use to the Automated Balls and Strike (ABS) zone.  He went 4-4 with a 5.30 ERA, 16 games, 81 Ks in 73 innings.  He was at his best on August 8th as we went 8 scoreless innings while flirting with a No-No before allowing 1 hit, with 2 walks and 7 Ks;

Nate Lavender, Syracuse Mets, Photo by Herm Card

Lefty Relief Pitcher Nate Lavender could very well be NYC bound in 2024.  After throwing a 1.74 ERA in Binghamton, Nate came to Syracuse going 4-3 with a 3.27 ERA in 35 games, 44 innings, with 67 Ks; 

Nolan Clenney, Syracuse Mets, Photo by Herm Card

Another Pitcher up from Binghamton was Nolan Clenney.  While Nolan had some struggles with Syracuse, 0-3, 6.08 ERA, 12 games, 23.2 innings, 37 Ks - he excelled in the Arizona Fall League allowing just 1 run over 9 games and 9 innings with 13 Ks;

Eric Orze, Syracuse Mets, Photo by Herm Card

When you are a relief pitcher, a few bad outings can give you some bad stats. Eric Orze had a few of those in 2023 for Syracuse which explains his overall 3 and 4 record with a 5.39 ERA.  However, Eric was much improved at the end of the season allowing no runs over his last eight outings - 11 innings with 22 Ks.  

Tyler Thomas, Syracuse Mets, Photo by Herm Card

Lefty Relief Pitcher Tyler Thomas was a mid-season free agent signing from the Independent Atlantic League.  After going 1-0 with a 0.79 ERA in 15 games/22.2 innings for Binghamton, he got the call to Syracuse where he went 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA in 9 games, 12 innings.  Mets must be high on the 27 year old as he was sent to the Arizona Fall League where he went 0-0 with a 3.72 ERA in 8 games, 9.2 innings.

Dedniel Nunez, Syracuse Mets, Photo by Herm Card

The Mets lost Dedniel Nunez in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft to the San Francisco Giants.  After missing a year with Tommy John Surgery, Dedniel came back to the Mets.  He split time in 2023 with Syracuse and Binghamton going 2 and 4 with a 6.75 ERA, 48 Ks in 40 innings, 29 games.

Justin Jarvis, Syracuse Mets, Photo by Herm Card

Acquired at the Trade Deadline for Mark Canha, Justin Jarvis struggled a bit in his new Syracuse surroundings, 0 and 5 with a 8.04 ERA in 9 games, 36 Ks in 31.1 innings.  Mets were hoping to see more of the pitcher that dominated in April 2023 in AA when he went 2 and 1 with a 1.57 ERA, 23 innings, 29 Ks.

David Griffin, Syracuse Mets, Photo by Herm Card

David Griffin went back and forth between Binghamton and Syracuse multiple times in 2023.  His Syracuse numbers may not reflect it - 2 and 5, 7.76 ERA but he was very useful as a starter and in long relief.  His 11 starts for Syracuse were the 5th most for Syracuse in 2023.

Denyi Reyes, Syracuse Mets, Photo by Herm Card

Denyi Reyes lead the team in innings pitched, 91.2.  He went 2 and 3 in 18 starts with a 5.79 ERA.

Jose Butto, Syracuse Mets, Photo by Herm Card

Jose Butto led the team with 19 games started before he was called up to NYC.  He went 3 and 7 with a 5.93 ERA.  

Joey Lucchesi, Syracuse Mets, Photo by Herm Card

Joey Lucchesi went 4 and 0 with a 2.89 ERA in the Majors this year but like a lot of pitchers in AAA, he struggled at times with the ABS as he went 6 and 5 with a 4.74 ERA, 15 games, 81.2 innings.

David Peterson, Syracuse Mets, Photo by Herm Card

David Peterson made 7 starts for Syracuse, 1 and 2, 4.86 ERA.  

Jose Chacin, Syracuse Mets, Photo by Herm Card

Jose Chacin pitched in 10 games for Syracuse with 5 starts.  He went 1 and 1 with a 5.66 ERA.

Tylor Megill, Syracuse Mets, Photo by Herm Card

Tylor Megill made 6 starts for Syracuse.  While he had a winning record in NYC for the Mets, he went 0 and 3 for Syracuse with an 8.67 ERA.  

Dylan Bundy, Syracuse Mets, Photo by Herm Card

The Mets picked up quite a few pitchers during 2023 to see if they could help the big league club after a few games in Syracuse.  MLB Veteran Dylan Bundy threw 6 games for the S-Mets but it didn't go as planned succumbing to an injury.  He went 0 and 2 with a 10.08 ERA, 12 HRs in 25 innings.  

Josh Walker, Syracuse Mets, Photo by Herm Card

Lefty Josh Walker continued his transition from starting pitcher to relief in 2023 and earned a callup to the Major League Mets before getting hurt.  He went 2 and 2 with a 1.84 ERA in 21 games, 29.1 innings for Syracuse;