Jenrry

Mejia

Mejia got off to a decent start over the spring, but his Grapefruit League ERA has ballooned to 6.75 after struggled on Friday. He’ll likely be sent to Triple-A Pawtucket -- assuming Mejia accepts the assignment -- and there’s a decent chance he contributes to the Boston bullpen before the season concludes.

That’s obviously not the way Mejia wanted to respond after manager Alex Cora admitted earlier Friday that Mejia had a chance to make the team’s Opening Day bullpen. After this rough outing, he now owns a 6.75 ERA, though he has punched out 10 over his eight innings of work.

Mejia surrendered a couple runs in his last appearance but overall has impressed this spring with a 9/2 K/BB ratio across seven innings. He’s technically not part of major league camp but has appeared in seven Grapefruit League games. Mejia, of course, was previously banned for life from Major League Baseball following a third PED bust, but he was successfully reinstated last summer. The Red Sox aren’t expected to have a set closer going into the season and Mejia could be considered a deep sleeper for saves.

There were no radar gun readings in this one, but it looked like his velocity was pretty good and he had some movement on his slider. Mejia did not get an invite to major league camp as part of the minor league deal he signed with Boston last month, and he’s practically assured of opening the year in the minors. He could help the bullpen later.

Mejia was previously banned for life from Major League Baseball following a third PED bust in 2016, but he won reinstatement late last summer and will now try to rebuild his reputation with Boston. The 29-year-old right-hander hasn’t appeared in a game at the MLB level since July 2015. He holds a 3.68 ERA in 183 1/3 career innings -- all with the Mets. This deal does not include an official invitation to spring training, but Mejia will be present at an early mini-camp and can make a prorated salary of $625,000 if he eventually cracks the Red Sox roster.

Mejia has been working on a comeback after having his lifetime PED ban lifted, but it won’t happen with the Mets. The 29-year-old hasn’t pitched in the majors since July 26, 2015.

Mejia was reinstated back in July after receiving a permanent ban following his third positive PED test back in 2016. He went on to make a couple of appearances with the Mets’ affiliates in the Dominican Summer League. It’s unclear what the team’s plans are for him moving forward, but he’ll be eligible to pitch in 2019 assuming no other issues pop up. Mejia, 28, holds a 3.68 ERA over 113 appearances (including 18 starts) in the majors.

Mejia, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, told David Lennon of New York Newsday that he is “feeling strong.” The 22-year-old right-hander is on track to begin pitching in minor league games around May. There’s a chance he could pitch in relief for the Mets during the second half of the season.

He’s scheduled to make 15 tosses from the slope of the mound while the catcher will move closer than the usual 60 feet, 6 inches. Still, this marks a significant hurdle for Mejia, who underwent Tommy John surgery last May. Barring any setbacks, the 22-year-old right-hander should be pitching in minor league games during the first half of the season.

“I was happy to see him on the mound today,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “I thought his arm was good and loose.” Mejia, 22, is aiming to resume pitching in minor league games during the first half of the season. The Mets have not yet decided whether he’ll return as a starter or reliever.