Mets reassign LHP Nate Lavender to minor league camp

The Mets made another cut on Wednesday, reassigning LHP Nate Lavender to minor league camp. 

New York is now down to 69 players in big-league camp. 

Lavender, of course, was picked up by the Rays after being left exposed to the Rule 5 Draft last offseason. 

The southpaw wouldn't appear in a game all year, though, as his recovery following internal brace surgery didn't quite go as planned and he was returned to the Mets this winter.

Back with the organization, he'll look to prove that he can stay healthy to start the year. 

Lavender hasn't pitched in nearly two seasons, but he did enjoy success the last time he was on the mound, pitching to a 2.98 ERA and 1.19 WHIP across 35 appearances in 2023. 

He also threw three scoreless appearances in big-league camp early in 2024, before going down to injury five games into the Triple-A season. 

The 26-year-old will begin the year back with Syracuse, but perhaps he could find a role in the Mets' bullpen at some point if he can regain that dominant form and stay healthy.