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A.J. Minter Returns to Mets, Throws Scoreless Inning

A sharp first outing raises the possibility he will be used in high-leverage relief or traded before the Aug. 3 deadline.

Overview

  • Minter was activated from the 60-day injured list on May 26 and threw a scoreless ninth inning in his first major-league appearance on Wednesday, allowing one hit and recording two strikeouts.
  • Manager Carlos Mendoza said Minter looked sharp and plans to ease him into high-leverage work as the team manages his workload after surgery and a delayed ramp-up.
  • Minter missed most of 2025 and the start of 2026 after tearing his left lat in April 2025 and undergoing season-ending surgery following earlier hip surgery in 2024.
  • He signed a two-year, $22 million deal with the Mets in January 2025 and is a free agent after the 2026 season, facts that increase his appeal as a trade asset for contenders.
  • The Mets are underperforming early in 2026, so the club faces a choice between using Minter to stabilize the bullpen now or trading him to acquire prospects ahead of the August deadline.