Not knowing he would make his MLB debut until a night before he was scheduled to pitch for the Mets, Justin Hagenman pitched admirably in 3.1 innings against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday with the experience going about as well as he could’ve hoped for.
“It was fun. It was everything you hope for and more,” he said. “Just glad I was able to settle in and kind of treat it like a game and do kind of what I’m used to.”
The 28-year-old born in Voorhees, N.J. got the call out of Triple-A because scheduled starter Griffin Canning was under the weather and couldn’t go. So, Hagenman made his way to the Twin Cities from Syracuse and after Huascar Brazoban pitched a scoreless opening inning before walking the leadoff man in the second, Hagenman entered the game for his MLB debut.
Already dealing with a runner on base out of the gates, Hagenman did well by striking out the first batter he faced.
“After you get the first out under your belt it’s like ‘alright, now we go,’ so it was a good feeling,” he said.
Hagenman followed up the strikeout with a flyout before striking out a second batter to end the inning.
In the third, the right-hander froze DaShawn Keirsey Jr. with an outside sinker with the count full, but got into some trouble after a single and double put runners on second and third. However, the Twins failed to score in the inning after the Mets threw out a runner at home on a fielder’s choice for the second out and Hagenman ending the threat with his fourth strikeout of the afternoon.
“The beginning, you know first batter, you get up there and it’s just different. I don’t even know how to describe it, but just a little different,” Hagenman said. “But felt like I was able to settle in and do what I do best and attack and [got] pretty good results.”
“I thought he was really good,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “Threw strikes, mixed well, used all of his pitches. I liked the tempo, he worked quick. I thought he gave us what we were asking of him.”
With his family in the stands, able to travel on short-notice, Hagenman pitched into the fifth inning and left with a runner on second base after 3.1 innings and 50 pitches (32 strikes) thrown.
A run charged to Hagenman came around to score in the frame after Jose Butto allowed a single to former Met Harrison Bader.
“Super grateful that they were able to make it out,” Hagenman said about his family. “You never know and this is a one-time opportunity so super happy that they were able to make it and it was a good time.”
After the game, New York announced that Canning will start on Thursday in the Mets’ series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field. David Peterson will then start on Friday.
Therefore, Hagenman will most likely be sent back down to Triple-A, but not before completing his dream of pitching in the majors. He’ll also have a few souvenirs from the game, including the ball he threw for his first pitch and for his first strikeout.
And despite a rough start for the Syracuse Mets in three games so far, the journeyman with a 3.95 career ERA in the minors may have just bought himself a few more spot starts in case of emergency this season with his outing.
“Taking it all in still, but it’s been good,” he said.
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