The Mets acquired Minor League right-handed pitcher Matt Seelinger in a trade with the Tigers on Monday, sending cash considerations to Detroit.
The 31-year-old Seelinger, who hails from Westbury, N.Y., has recorded a 3.89 ERA across 39 1/3 innings and 27 appearances for Triple-A Toledo this season. He has struck out 49 batters and walked 19.
Perhaps the highlight of Seelinger's pro career came in a World Baseball Classic exhibition against the Dominican Republic earlier this season when he struck out the Mets' Juan Soto swinging on a 94.1 mph four-seamer. Seelinger also got D-backs slugger Ketel Marte to fly out but walked the Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. in the brief outing.
Seelinger throws his four-seamer, which averages 92.4 mph, about half the time. He mixes in a mid-80s cutter as well as a low-80s knuckle curve that has limited hitters to a .138 average and a .207 slugging percentage this year.
A 28th-round pick by the Pirates in the 2017 MLB Draft, Seelinger has also spent time in the Rays’, Giants’ and Phillies’ systems, but he has yet to appear in the big leagues. Over nine Minor League seasons, he has registered a 3.33 ERA and a 12.0 K/9 rate.