PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- What Huascar Brazobán accomplished during the World Baseball Classic, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said, did not actually influence the team’s opinion of him. Yet it would have been difficult for anyone to watch Brazobán pitch for the Dominican Republic and not come away impressed. Over four WBC innings, Brazobán retired 12 of the 13 batters he faced, striking out seven, including three Team USA hitters in Sunday’s semifinal.
One day after Brazobán delivered that performance, Mendoza acknowledged that the right-hander will make New York’s Opening Day roster as long as he stays healthy.
“If everything continues to trend in that direction,” Mendoza said, “he’s going to be a part of our bullpen.”
The only reason Brazobán’s inclusion was in doubt was because he has an accessible Minor League option, giving the Mets flexibility if they wanted to carry multiple non-roster pitchers or relievers out of options. But Brazobán has proven too good to leave off. Between the WBC and Grapefruit League play, he has allowed just one hit and two walks in seven innings.
“Not surprising,” Mendoza said. “He’s coming back in a pretty good spot as far as the buildup and us being comfortable using him one-plus [innings] when we need to.
“We know the stuff is real. It’s high 90s with sink, it’s a plus changeup. I think it just comes down to him consistently filling the strike zone.”
Last year, Brazobán ranked second among Mets pitchers who were primarily relievers with both 63 innings and a 3.57 ERA.
Brazobán’s inclusion in the Opening Day bullpen brings the number of Mets relievers with confirmed jobs to six. Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Brooks Raley, Luis García and Tobias Myers will all also make the team. Because the Mets plan to open the season with a six-man rotation, that leaves just one additional bullpen spot available for a group of hopefuls including Craig Kimbrel, Bryan Hudson, Austin Warren and Joey Gerber, among others.
On that front, the Mets aren’t likely to make any decisions until close to the noon deadline on Opening Day. In addition to wanting as much time as possible to evaluate their options and make sure everyone is healthy, team officials intend to scour the waiver wire in case intriguing relievers become available to claim or acquire via trade.
“There’s so much that could happen,” Mendoza said.
Kimbrel’s situation remains intriguing because he would be due $2.5 million if he makes the team -- a pittance if he can reclaim any part of his past Hall of Fame-caliber form, but a significant sum if the Mets are in any way unsure. Kimbrel hasn’t helped his cause with bouts of wildness this spring, including four walks and two hit batsmen in four innings.
“He’s doing what he’s supposed to be doing,” Mendoza said. “I like the way the ball’s coming out. It’s 93 with life. The breaking ball is there. … It’s going to be a difficult decision here.”
Two other pitchers still in camp, A.J. Minter and Adbert Alzolay, won’t make the Opening Day roster. Minter needs about a month of extra time to recover from 2025 surgery to repair a torn left lat muscle, while the plan is for Alzolay to build up slowly at Triple-A Syracuse in his first action back from 2024 Tommy John surgery. Both could become options early in the season.