Jeremy

Hefner

Hefner, 26, has posted a stellar 1.96 ERA in 18 1/3 innings this season in the minors. The right-hander will presumably function as a middle reliever with the Mets.

Hefner had a successful major league debut Monday, pitching three scoreless innings in the first game of a doubleheader. His reward is being sent down before the second game. He could get another shot later this season, though.

Chris Schwinden posted an 11.25 ERA in his two starts, so he’s been sent to Triple-A Buffalo. Hefner, who is currently at Buffalo, pitched three scoreless innings in his lone big-league appearance back on April 23. However, he posted a 4.98 ERA in 157 1/3 innings at the Triple-A level last season.

Hefner had an interesting winter. He was claimed off waivers by the Pirates from the Padres in November and DFA’d in December when Pittsburgh made room for a Rule 5 pick. New York claimed him, but he has failed to make the team. Hefner posted a 4.98 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 120/61 K/BB ratio over 157 1/3 innings at the Triple-A level this past season. Puello, a 20-year-old outfielder, delivered a .259/.313/.397 batting line last season to go along with 10 home runs, 50 RBI, 19 stolen bases and a .710 OPS over 488 plate appearances at High-A St. Lucie. He’s still a long way away, but the Mets added him to the 40-man roster over the winner to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.

Hefner has already had quite a journey this winter. He was claimed off waivers by the Pirates from the Padres in November and DFA’d last week when Pittsburgh made room for a Rule 5 pick. Hefner posted a 4.98 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 120/61 K/BB ratio over 157 1/3 innings at the Triple-A level this past season. He has an outside chance to challenge for a long relief role in spring training.

The Padres removed Hefner from their 40-man roster, but the Pirates decided that he’d be a good fit on theirs. The 25-year-old didn’t fare too well in his first taste of Triple-A this season, posting a 4.98 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 120/61 K/BB ratio over 157 1/3 innings, but he had a sub-3.00 ERA in 2010 and has the ceiling of a back-end of the rotation starter. The Pirates will give him a chance in spring training to win a roster spot.

He was cleared to make room for infielder Gustavo Nunez, who was selected from the Tigers in Thursday’s Rule 5 Draft. Hefner, who was claimed off waivers from the Padres in November, posted a 4.98 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 120/61 K/BB ratio over 157 1/3 innings at the Triple-A level this past season. The 25-year-old right-hander might be able to sneak through waivers unclaimed.

Hefner struck out three, walked none and allowed two home runs, one of which came off the bat of Bryce Harper. Part of the Mets’ new six-man rotation, Hefner and his 5.11 ERA aren’t worth a look outside of deep NL-only leagues.

Hefner allowed two runs over five innings on Saturday after Batista exited. The 26-year-old right-hander posted a 2.72 ERA in seven starts with Triple-A Buffalo this season, but he holds little appeal for fantasy purposes.

It’s not surprising after he gave up just two runs over six innings against the Nationals Wednesday. Hefner will likely occupy a rotation spot until Johan Santana is ready to return in early August.