Non-Roster Invitee Preview: Nate Lavender
Nate Lavender is back with the Mets!
Lavender had back-to-back dominant seasons in the minor leagues for the Mets in 2022 and 2023. In 2022, Lavender had a 1.70 ERA, 1.217 WHIP with a 12.7 K/9 over 47 2/3 innings between St. Lucie and Brooklyn. In 2023, he had a 2.98 ERA, 1.196 WHIP with a 14.2 K/9 over 54 1/3 innings between Binghamton and Syracuse.
Nate Lavender Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
Lavender’s strong 2023 across Double-A and Triple-A finally landed him on MLB.com Pipeline’s Top 30 Mets prospects (#24) heading into the 2024 season. His 2024 scouting report touted his reverse splits, and his three-quarter slot. He would use his low-90’s fastball to set up his high-70’s changeup. He seemed destined to make his major league debut at some point during the 2024 season. The Mets were starved for left-handed relief in 2024, a season where Danny Young and Jake Diekman led lefty relief innings pitched.
Unfortunately, Nate Lavender required internal brace surgery in May 2024, sidelining him for the rest of the season. At the time, it was assumed he would return at some point during the 2025 season. The Mets left him unprotected in the December 2024 Rule V draft and the Rays picked him up. They liked what they saw from Lavender over the last few seasons enough to hold onto him through the rest of his recovery time. Lavender wasn’t able to move forward in his rehab in 2025 and didn’t pitch in any minor league games last season.
Because Nate Lavender was injured the entire season in 2025, he actually kept his Rule V status. The Rays DFA’d him, he cleared waivers, and was returned to the Mets in November. The Mets left him unprotected again, but this time he was able to slip through without getting selected.
The path forward for Lavender is uncertain. He’s lost more than a season and a half of playing time. There are things that are still the same though. The Mets lefty relief situation still leaves a lot to be desired. Brooks Raley is back after the Mets exercised his club option at the end of 2025. It is unclear right now if A.J. Minter will be able to start the season healthy. The Mets traded for Bryan Hudson for lefty depth. Outside of Lavender, the only other lefties in camp on NRI’s are Joe Jacques, Anderson Severino, Matt Turner, and Brandon Waddell.
Hopefully Nate Lavender has an uneventful spring training and is able to reestablish himself on the mound. The next step from there is to get more reps under his belt at Syracuse. With the Mets’ recent injury track record with pitchers, there is a significant chance the Mets will call on him at some point this season. There was a genuine buzz around him in 2024, fingers crossed, we get to feel that buzz for him again in 2026.
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