Hunter announced Wednesday that he has officially retired from baseball, Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic reports.
Hunter, 37, struggled to a 6.85 ERA through 23.2 innings of relief last year with the Mets before being released in mid-June. The right-hander pitched for seven different teams over the course of 16 major-league seasons and finishes with a career 4.07 ERA in 917.1 total frames.
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Tommy Hunter: Dropped by Mets
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The Mets released Hunter on Tuesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
The Mets DFA'd Hunter after he put up a 6.85 ERA and 1.39 WHIP through 23.2 innings to start the season, and now the 36-year-old reliever will look to catch on with another organization -- likely as a minor-leaguer.
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Mets' Tommy Hunter: Designated for assignment
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Hunter was designated for assignment by the Mets on Saturday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
The veteran righty is in his 16th major-league season but doesn't appear to have a lot left in the tank. In 23.2 innings this season, he struggled to a 6.85 ERA, striking out just 18.9 percent of opposing batters. His $1.75 million salary isn't particularly large, but it's enough above the league minimum that it might discourage potential suitors on the waiver wire. John Curtiss was called up to take his place on the roster.
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Mets' Tommy Hunter: Serves up walk-off homer
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Hunter (0-1) took the loss Thursday as the Mets fell 13-10 to Atlanta, giving up three runs (two earned) on a hit and a walk over two-thirds of an inning.
With two runners on in the bottom of the 10th inning, the right-hander left a 1-0 cutter in the heart of the zone and Ozzie Albies crushed it deep to right field to walk it off. Hunter has served up four homers in 21.2 innings this season, a nearly identical rate to last year, but he hasn't been anywhere near as lucky and now carries a 6.65 ERA -- a jump of more than four runs from 2022. The veteran reliever was the sixth Met to come out of the bullpen Thursday, and he'll remain in a low-leverage role unless he's able to earn some trust from manager Buck Showalter.
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Mets' Tommy Hunter: Back from IL
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The Mets reinstated Hunter (back) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Hunter missed the minimum 15 days after being shut down due to back spasms. The right-hander will likely operate in the middle innings for the Mets. Denyi Reyes was sent down to Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding transaction.
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Mets' Tommy Hunter: Beginning rehab assignment
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Hunter (back) is beginning a rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Syracuse, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
That puts him on track to return to the Mets' bullpen when first eligible next week. Hunter landed on the 15-day injured list April 4 because of back spasms.
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Mets' Tommy Hunter: Throwing live BP
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Hunter (back) is throwing live batting practice Tuesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Hunter would appear to be making a swift recovery from the back spasms that sent him to the 15-day injured list April 4. He is first eligible to be activated April 19 and could be ready on that date.
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Mets' Tommy Hunter: Placed on 15-day IL
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Hunter was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with back spasms.
Denyi Reyes will fill his spot in the Mets' bullpen for now. Hunter worked two scoreless innings in his season debut last Friday against the Marlins before getting pounded for five earned runs in another two-inning appearance Monday versus the Brewers.
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Mets' Tommy Hunter: Added to roster
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The Mets selected Hunter's contract Monday.
Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reported Saturday that Hunter was informed he had clinched a spot in the Mets' Opening Day bullpen, but his appointment to the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster didn't become official until New York designated outfielder Darin Ruf for assignment in a corresponding move Monday. Hunter is projected to handle a middle-innings role for the Mets to begin the season.
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Mets' Tommy Hunter: Wins roster spot
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Hunter has made the Mets' Opening Day roster, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Hunter returned to the Mets as a non-roster invitee this spring and had an opt out if he failed to make the team. He's yet to be officially added to the 40-man roster but has been informed that he's on the team. The veteran helped his cause this spring by tossing eight scoreless innings, striking out nine batters while walking one.
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Mets' Tommy Hunter: Collects save Saturday
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Hunter gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.
The veteran right-hander picked up the save, and while spring saves typically are meaningless -- Houston had no Opening Day starters left in the game by the time Hunter took the mound -- there's increased focus on the Mets' closing situation after the loss of Edwin Diaz (knee). Hunter has seen occasional ninth-inning duties during his 15 seasons in the majors, including a career-high 11 saves for the O's way back in 2014, but David Robertson, Adam Ottavino, Brooks Raley (hamstring), Drew Smith and likely others are well ahead of him in the pecking order to replace Diaz, assuming he even gets added to the 26-man roster. Hunter has had a good spring though, posting a 7:1 K:BB across six scoreless innings, and that might be enough to lock up a low-leverage spot.
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Mets' Tommy Hunter: Back with Mets on MiLB deal
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Hunter signed a minor-league contract with the Mets on Monday.
The 36-year-old right-hander will likely get the chance to compete for a spot in the Mets' Opening Day bullpen while attending big-league spring training. Hunter battled injuries but was effective over his 22 appearances out of the New York bullpen in 2022, logging a 2.42 ERA and 1.21 WHIP across 22.1 innings.
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Mets' Tommy Hunter: Moves to injured list
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Hunter was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with low-back tightness, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Hunter hasn't pitched since Sept. 14 and will now be unavailable for the next couple weeks. The veteran right-hander will be eligible to return for the final few days of the regular season, though it's unclear if he'll be healthy by that point.
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Mets' Tommy Hunter: Returns to action
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Hunter (back) was activated off the injured list Friday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
A back issue sidelined Hunter for just shy of three weeks. He's good to go after tossing four scoreless innings across three rehab appearances. Michael Perez was optioned to clear space on the roster.
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Mets' Tommy Hunter: Initiates rehab assignment
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Hunter (back) struck out two and worked around one hit in a scoreless inning in his first rehab appearance Saturday with Double-A Binghamton.
Hunter was placed on the 15-day injured list Aug. 6 with lower-back tightness, and the fact that he was cleared to begin a rehab assignment exactly one week later suggests he's on track for a minimum-length stay on the shelf. The right-hander had provided a 2.51 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 14.1 innings out of the Mets bullpen before landing on the IL.
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Mets' Tommy Hunter: Lands on injured list
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Hunter was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday due to lower-back tightness, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Hunter has made 11 appearances for the Mets this season, posting a 2.51 ERA and 16:2 K:BB in 14.1 innings. David Peterson was called up to take his place on the roster ahead of his start Saturday against Atlanta.
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Mets' Tommy Hunter: Contract selected
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Hunter had his contract selected by the Mets on Friday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Hunter joined the Mets on a minor-league deal in late April and is now up with the big-league club after posting a 4.61 ERA over 13.2 innings with Triple-A Syracuse. The veteran right-hander didn't allow a run over eight frames in 2021 but missed most of the campaign while dealing with a back injury.
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Mets' Tommy Hunter: Back with Mets
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Hunter agreed to a minor-league contract with the Mets on Tuesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports
The veteran right-hander had a throwing showcase Friday for scouts from multiple teams, and it didn't take long for him to reach a deal. Hunter was with the Mets in 2021 but was limited to four appearances by a back injury, which eventually required surgery. He last saw significant action back in 2020 with the Phillies and had a 4.01 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 25:6 K:BB across 24.2 innings.
Hunter (back) threw for scouts for multiple teams Friday in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic reports.
The 35-year-old righty reliever is seemingly back to full health after he didn't see any game action from late May onward last season due to a back injury that ultimately required surgery. According to Ghiroli, Hunter's fastball hit 95 miles per hour on multiple occasions during Friday's throwing session, putting him roughly in line with his pre-surgery velocity levels. Hunter will likely have to settle for a minor-league deal with an organization and prove his health over several appearances at the Triple-A level before getting another look in the majors.
