Kay's reunion with Mets nearly a decade in the making

PHILADELPHIA -- The Mets’ first connection with Anthony Kay came back in 2013, when they drafted the left-hander out of Ward Melville High School -- Steven Matz’s alma mater -- on Long Island. He didn’t sign.

Three years later, the Mets tried again, selecting Kay in the first round of the Draft out of UConn. That time, Kay signed, developing into one of the organization’s most promising pitching prospects -- so promising, in fact, that the Mets included him as a headlining piece of their 2019 trade for Marcus Stroman.

From there, Kay spent time in Toronto and the North Side of Chicago, before the Mets claimed him off waivers from the Cubs earlier this month. On Sunday, the team called him back up to the big leagues, optioning right-hander Peyton Battenfield to clear space. He made his decade-in-the-making Mets debut hours later, striking out a pair and inducing a double play over 1 2/3 scoreless innings in a 5-2 loss to the Phillies

“This is our third try now? I feel like we’re in a bad relationship,” Kay said, laughing. “Hopefully this one ends a little better than the first two tries.”

By his own acknowledgement, Kay is a far different pitcher than he was when the Mets first brought him to the organization. Back then, Kay was a fastball-changeup artist who threw in the low- to mid-90s and relied on a curveball as his third pitch. The Mets hoped he could become an effective starter.

Now, Kay relies on a cutter and a sweeper, as well as a fastball that has hit 97 mph out of the bullpen.(He sat 95 mph against the Phillies.) He hasn’t served as a full-time starter since early in 2021.

“Completely different,” was how Kay described himself. “Everything is so different now.”

That includes the Mets organization itself. When Kay departed, Mickey Callaway was the manager, Brodie Van Wagenen was the GM and the Wilpon family owned the team. That triumvirate has long since departed, with new owner Steve Cohen installing different department heads and spending untold millions on behind-the-scenes operations, including front-office staff, clubhouse employees and even improved food for players.

“You could tell that they’ve made so many steps forward towards trying to make everything better here,” said Kay, who spent more than four years away from the organization.

Back with the Mets, Kay will give manager Buck Showalter another left-handed option to pair with Brooks Raley, whom the team has been cautious not to overuse in the second half of the season. Upon rejoining the organization, Kay thrived at Triple-A Syracuse, striking out eight batters over 3 1/3 shutout innings.

“You can see why he was well- and is well-thought of,” Showalter said. “It’s an interesting option. I know Raley was happy to see him.”

No matter how Kay fares, he is happy to have come full circle. When the Cubs designated him for assignment two weeks ago, Kay never expected to wind up back in New York, so close to his home. He considered traveling home to Long Island but instead stayed in Iowa, where he could remain nimble in case he cleared waivers or another team claimed him.

When the phone finally rang and he learned he was heading back to New York, Kay’s initial reaction was one of surprise.

“That was probably the last team that I was expecting that to happen, especially so late into the season,” Kay said. “I thought I would have just went unclaimed or something like that, and I was just going to go home. But here we are. I’ve just been enjoying every second of it.”