“Last guy I've seen pitch like this was deGrom” - Brandon Nimmo compares Sean Manaea’s performance to former Mets ace after recent win
It's been a strong first season with the New York Mets for veteran pitcher Sean Manaea. The 32-year-old signed a two-year deal this offseason, a move that has paid off handsomely for both parties. Manaea has enjoyed a strong season, which was in full effect during his latest start.
On Tuesday, Manaea battled World Series runner-ups, the Arizona Diamondbacks. The native of Valparaiso, Indiana, put his whole arsenal on display, racking up 11 strikeouts over 6.2 innings.
"The last guy that I've seen kind of pitch like this was probably deGrom, where you're just going through it, just swing-and-miss, swing-and-miss and go back to the dugout," Nimmo said about Manea following Mets' 8-3 win.
It is a big compliment for Manaea, given how dominant Jacob deGrom was during his tenure with the New York Mets. Over his nine years with the Mets, deGrom earned two Cy Young Awards with four All-Star selections.
While Nimmo did not compare the two from a career standpoint, he mentioned how quickly Sean Manaea was able to go through the innings.
Sean Manaea is not the only veteran pitcher enjoying a bounceback season for the Mets
The New York Mets' pitching rotation was a bit of a mystery heading into 2024. Instead of attempting to sign some of the biggest names in free agency, such as Blake Snell or Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Mets front office took a different route, bringing in veteran arms to fill their needs.
After a disappointing stint with the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants, Sean Manaea returned to his early-career form. His 3.51 ERA is among the finest of his career, and it is one of the reasons the New York Mets are in playoff contention.
Manaea was not the only veteran looking to re-establish his value in the MLB this offseason by joining the Mets.
Former Yankees starter Luis Severino also made the jump to the Mets this offseason and has been solid all season long. Through 147.2 innings this year, Severino has bounced back, nearly cutting his 2023 ERA in half, posting a 3.84 ERA after 25 starts.