Brooklyn Boy Stays Home: Mets Re-Sign Ottavino

 

Adam Ottavino pitching against the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 1, 2022. Photo by Jason Schott.

The Mets have back relief pitcher Adam Ottavino, a Park Slope, Brooklyn native, on a one-year contract, the team made official on Tuesday.

Ottavino, 38, joined the Mets in 2022 and has been one of their most reliable relief pitchers, serving as closer for parts of last season.

In his two years with the Mets, Ottavino ranks seventh in the National League in ERA (earned run average) at 2.62, and eighth in games, 132. The Mets are 88-44 when the right-hander appears in a game.

In 2023, Ottavino racked up a career-high 12 saves, and he had a 3.21 ERA (22 earned runs in 61.2 innings pitched), 62 strikeouts and 29 walks, with a 1-7 record in 66 appearances. 

Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns said in a statement, "Adam has been a steady, integral piece of the bullpen for this club over the last two seasons. We're excited to keep him home in New York, where he's thrived on the field, and we look forward to having him pitching important innings for us in 2024."

Ottavino ranks in the Top 10 among active relievers in strikeouts (fifth with 780), innings (seventh with 672.2), and appearances (eighth with 661). He has spent 13 years in the Major Leagues, pitching for St. Louis, Colorado, the Yankees, and Boston, and he has a 3.42 ERA (261 ER in 687.0 IP) with a record of 39-41.

Since 2018, he has kept his opponent off the board in 292, of his 373 appearances, 78.2 percent. Both the scoreless outings and appearances are highest in the Major Leagues in that span.