When Daniel Duarte had his second elbow surgery in April 2024, most people the right-handed reliever spoke to believed his chances of getting back to the big league mound were a relative coin flip.
Duarte's 18-month recovery has the potential to be a lifetime in Major League Baseball. An opportunity in his native Mexico in the Mexican Pacific Winter League this past winter helped the right-hander regain his confidence. He did not allow an earned run in 24 innings and converted five saves.
Then, the Mets came calling with a minor league deal.
"I knew once I have the opportunity, I can show that I still can pitch in the big leagues," Duarte told NorthJersey.com this week. "First of all, I want to be healthy because in the past, there's been a couple of injuries, like one Tommy John and bone spurs and tendinitis, different kind of stuff. I'm glad that now I have no problems, healthy and doing what I like."
More than two seasons removed from his baseball career teetering on disrepair, Duarte, whose only extended major league action came in 2023 with the Reds, has latched onto his opportunity in a Mets bullpen still reeling from a massive trade deadline sell-off.
#Opportunity #METS #Baseball
Duarte's 18-month recovery has the potential to be a lifetime in Major League Baseball. An opportunity in his native Mexico in the Mexican Pacific Winter League this past winter helped the right-hander regain his confidence. He did not allow an earned run in 24 innings and converted five saves.
Then, the Mets came calling with a minor league deal.
"I knew once I have the opportunity, I can show that I still can pitch in the big leagues," Duarte told NorthJersey.com this week. "First of all, I want to be healthy because in the past, there's been a couple of injuries, like one Tommy John and bone spurs and tendinitis, different kind of stuff. I'm glad that now I have no problems, healthy and doing what I like."
More than two seasons removed from his baseball career teetering on disrepair, Duarte, whose only extended major league action came in 2023 with the Reds, has latched onto his opportunity in a Mets bullpen still reeling from a massive trade deadline sell-off.
#Opportunity #METS #Baseball
3 months ago
