Mets' reliever impresses in first rehab game with Double-A Binghamton

Reed Garrett took a big step toward returning to New York in his first appearance since landing on the IL with elbow inflammation.

Aug 13, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Reed Garrett (75) steps off the mound after giving up a three run home run in the fourth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

New York Mets reliever Reed Garrett made a promising return to the mound on September 4 for the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies, which was his first appearance since being sidelined with right elbow inflammation.

The 32-year-old tossed a scoreless inning as an opener on Thursday, allowing one hit and striking out two in a quick 15-pitch outing. Eleven of those pitches went for strikes, a positive sign that Garrett's command is returning after nearly two weeks away.

A couple of strikeouts tonight for Reed Garrett in his first rehab appearance for Binghamton pic.twitter.com/fy8TAkdNnS

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) September 4, 2025

Garrett was unexpectedly placed on the 15-day injured list on August 25 after struggling to recover between outings due to soreness in his throwing arm. Fortunately, an MRI revealed no ligament damage, sparing both the pitcher and the Mets from what could have been a season-ending injury.

Read More: Mets’ Tylor Megill to make one more rehab start in Triple-A

What Garrett's Return Means for New York

The Mets' bullpen has been all over the place this season with all the injuries, inconsistencies, and transactions it has seen. Yet for the first two months, Garrett was arguably the glue that held it together.

Through May, the right-hander posted a stellar 0.73 ERA, frequently pitching the Mets out of jams, providing stability in the late innings ahead of Edwin Diaz, and looking like a strong candidate for the 2025 All-Star Game.

But the past three months have been a different story. Since June 1, Garrett has pitched to a 6.18 ERA in 29 games and gradually slid into lower-leverage roles. Yet Garrett was far from the only Mets reliever who struggled from June on, which ultimately led the Mets to overhauling their bullpen at the trade deadline with the acquisitions of Gregory Soto, Ryan Helsley, and Tyler Rogers.

Read More: New York Mets claim veteran reliever off waivers

Fast-forward to September, and the Mets are still trying to figure out their bullpen amidst their postseason push. Helsley has given up more runs with New York (14) than he did in St. Louis (12), and arms continue to be shuffled between Triple-A, the majors, and the waiver wire. There is even noise about the Mets adopting a "piggybacking" approach for their rotation if they reach October.

“Piggybacking" is the strategy the Mets rotation should employ if they reach October...
 
Game 1⁰Nolan McLean → David Peterson
 
Game 2⁰Jonah Tong → Clay Holmes
 
Game 3⁰Kodai Senga → Sean Manaea
 
+ Brandon Sproat as an X-factor⁰No choice but to get creative 👇 pic.twitter.com/npcQXfdQjm

— Paul Hembekides (Hembo) (@PaulHembo) September 4, 2025

Thursday's outing was just the first of what's expected to be several minor-league rehab appearances, with a stop at Triple-A Syracuse likely next week.

Still, Thursday was an encouraging sign for both Garrett and the Mets. A huge part of postseason baseball is health and having as many reliable arms as possible. While Garrett's role remains unclear, he will certainly be part of that equation, aiming to recapture his early-season form when he returns.