The Mets suddenly have a rotation puzzle on their hands, and Robert Stock may have given them a workable piece.
That became clear after last weekend’s changes left New York with two open spots in the starting mix. Kodai Senga filled one of them last Friday, throwing four scoreless innings before unraveling in the fifth and allowing three runs before his outing ended. Then on Sunday, the Mets handed the ball to Stock, a 36-year-old journeyman who spent the year grinding his way back from thoracic outlet surgery.
It was a big moment for Stock, and not just because he was back on a big-league mound. His return also hinted at something the Mets may need later in the 2026 season: a starter who can take the ball at the MLB level.
Citi Field had its own emotional layer, even if the game itself was a flat 2-0 loss to the Marlins in which the Mets left 10 runners on base. Stock’s path back from thoracic outlet surgery, one of the most dreaded diagnoses for a pitcher, made the day feel bigger than the result.
"Thinking about where I was a couple of months ago, where I couldn't move my arm or my head, to being in Citi Field is as much of a dream come true as could be," said Stock following the outing (h/t SNY Mets).
Thoracic outlet surgery can require a recovery window of six to 10 months because it involves compression of blood vessels or nerves between the collarbone and first rib, though some pitchers return in three to six months. Stock moved fast. He had surgery on March 8, then began a rehab assignment on June 19, only about three months later.
His minor league work suggested he was ready for a shot. Across eight outings, six of them starts, Stock posted a 2.91 ERA with 31 strikeouts and only three walks.
He backed that up against the Marlins. Stock delivered five innings, gave up one run on three hits, struck out four and didn’t issue a walk. For a pitcher who has spent years as a baseball traveler, it was the kind of outing that makes a club stop and think.
"Thinking about where I was a couple of months ago, where I couldn't move my arm or my head, to being in Citi Field is as much of a dream come true as could be," he said.
"The work my family does to support me, knowing they're there watching me, watching me in the big leagues, it's pretty cool," said Stock to SNY reporters when asked what this chance meant to him.
Mets manager Andy Green was equally complimentary afterward.
"He should take a lot of pride in the way he threw the baseball today," said Green following the impressive outing (h/t SNY Mets).
Green also said Stock had earned the right to be part of the discussion for another start, which matters now that the deadline has opened two spots. Freddy Peralta was traded to the Rays for three prospects, while Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor went to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Jefferson Rojas, the No. 63 overall ranked prospect in baseball.
That leaves the Mets weighing whether Stock can help bridge the gap while they keep their younger arms moving. Jonah Tong, Jonathan Santucci and Jack Wenninger are all potential call-up options in Triple-A. Tong has put together several encouraging starts lately, though his walk issues still stand out, and Wenninger could still be headed for a down 2026 campaign.
For the Mets, Stock is the kind of option teams like to find in a pinch: low risk, some upside, and enough reliability to cover innings without forcing the issue. After everything he’s been through, he may have pitched his way into a real conversation.
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