2021 NY Mets: Yamamoto Headlines Third Round of Camp Cuts

On Wednesday evening, the team announced that they’ve reassigned righty Corey Oswalt, catcher Bruce Maxwell, and infielder Brandon Drury. In addition, right-hander Jordan Yamamoto has been optioned to the Triple-A roster.

Oswalt threw four solid innings in today’s game against the Cardinals. Despite posting a 6.23 ERA, Mets manager Luis Rojas said following Wednesday"s outing that he was really impressed with the righty, and Oswalt’s stuff has looked the best he’s seen from the 27-year old in his career.

Oswalt would"ve had to have been added back to the 40-Man roster, so his chances of making the Opening Day roster were always seen as slim.

Non-roster invitee Bruce Maxwell was actually putting together a decent camp, hitting .300 with a double and two runs scored over 13 plate appearances. After showing up late to camp, Brandon Drury hit just .182 with seven strikeouts over 23 plate appearances.

These three aren’t very surprising cuts, and will likely spend most of the 2021 season in Triple-A, unless something crazy happens of course.

2021 NY Mets: Rotation Competition Resolved?

The Yamamoto news, on the other hand, comes as a bit of a surprise. The young right-hander has been competing for a starting rotation spot, and has pitched very well thus far in camp.

Over eight innings pitched, he has struck out five and allowed just three runs.

With that being said, and Yamamoto ultimately being reassigned, it seems as though left-hander Joey Lucchesi has won that battle for the fifth starter spot.

Lucchesi has also pitched very well thus far in camp, allowing just three runs over eight innings of work. He said following his outing on Monday afternoon he feels refreshed and prepared for this ‘new beginning" with the Mets.

The 2021 NY Mets Opening Day starting rotation figures to look something like this until Carlos Carrasco and/or Noah Syndergaard returns:

• RHP Jacob deGrom
• RHP Marcus Stroman
• LHP David Peterson
• RHP Taijuan Walker
• LHP Joey Lucchesi.

Let"s also keep in mind that despite being optioned, Yamamoto could still find his way onto the Opening Day roster by replacing either the injured Jose Martinez or Drew Smith, as pointed out by SNY’s Jacob Resnick.  

With just eight days before Opening Day, the 2021 NY Mets now have 40 players remaining in big league camp.   

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