MIAMI — Tylor Megill was a winter sensation for Mets officials with his development of two highly regarded new pitches, but before he could really test them, discomfort in his shoulder emerged.
That occurred during Megill’s first start of the season, on March 31.
At the time the right-hander thought he was facing a short stint on the injured list, but it’s now been nearly seven weeks.
On Monday he will officially return to the Mets roster when he’s activated to pitch the team’s series opener in Cleveland.
For the 28-year-old Megill it will be another new beginning in a career that hasn’t reached full potential because of injuries and ineffective stretches.
“It really sucked that this happened in my first game of the year, but I have been feeling good in my rehab,” Megill said Friday before the Mets faced the Marlins.
Megill was pitching against the Brewers and threw a curveball in the fourth inning that didn’t feel right. Megill completed the inning, but alerted team officials, ending his outing.
“It definitely sucked,” Megill said. “It happened in my first game of the year. I had a good spring and new pitches and I just wanted to go out and see what it does during games. It’s unfortunate that it happened.”
Diagnosed with a shoulder strain, Megill was told the lower arm slot utilized for throwing his curveball precipitated the injury.
Megill returned to throwing the curve in his rehab starts and said there weren’t any issues with it.
Mostly, he’s eager to show the cutter and splitter that he developed in the offseason.
And it would appear Megill (who has a minor league option remaining) will receive a string of starts to show he belongs.
The Mets in recent days optioned Jose Butto to Triple-A Syracuse because they needed the roster spot for a cameo by Joey Lucchesi, who started Wednesday against the Phillies.
“This a guy that has been a part of this rotation for years now,” manager Carlos Mendoza said, referring to Megill. “He’s healthy and I am really looking forward to him pitching on Monday but moving forward.”
In the larger picture, there are Butto and David Peterson (who is eligible for removal from the IL on May 27) behind Megill.
The Mets are also awaiting a rehab assignment for Kodai Senga, but the right-hander will need about a month of buildup once he begins pitching in minor league games.
The Mets are utilizing Luis Severino, Sean Manaea, Jose Quintana and rookie Christian Scott in the rotation ahead of Megill, who knows he must perform to maintain a spot.
“We have a lot of pitching depth and a lot of good pitching so … a lot of the guys we have can come up and pitch,” Megill said.
“Butto has been kicking ass, I am so happy for him — and we have got [Peterson] coming up, too. He’s been killing it in his rehab starts and he’s healthy, so our pitching staff has been real strong. I just need to do my part and go out and compete and help the team win.”
As enamored as he is with his splitter, which he began tinkering with last season after Senga showed him the grip, Megill seems most pleased with the cutter he’s developed as a weapon against left-handed batters.
It’s a pitch Megill wishes he had last season, when he pitched to a 4.70 ERA in 25 starts for the club.
“The problem last year was my changeup because [opponents] were able to dive over and hit it away,” Megill said. “If it comes out looking like a changeup or fastball and it cuts in [to lefties], it can keep them honest at the plate and it opens a lot of varieties.”