Daniel Duarte has turned a tiny sample into one of the more interesting little bullpen stories on the Mets’ roster.
In just four big league appearances, he has thrown 6.1 innings and still hasn’t allowed a run, earned or otherwise. The only hit he’s given up all season came in his first outing back in May. That kind of line can get lost when a pitcher is bouncing between New York and Syracuse, but Duarte has been too effective to ignore.
The right-hander has done what he’s supposed to do: get ground balls and throw strikes. His 64.3% ground ball rate makes him a nightmare for hitters trying to lift the ball, and his 2.8 BB/9 mark in the majors shows enough control to keep him in the mix. He even pitched on back-to-back days in June, which only added to the sense that he could be more than a one-and-done arm.
Still, the full picture is a little messier. Duarte hasn’t carried that success over to Syracuse, where his walk rate jumps to 5 BB/9, his ERA sits at 4.75, and he has allowed four home runs in 30.1 innings. That’s part of why he’s remained in the shuttle to-and-fro rather than locking down a permanent spot.
His roster situation also makes things tricky. Duarte won’t be able to go to the minors without first passing through waivers next year, which gives the Mets a decision to make.
They could keep him around and let him compete for a job next spring - or even in the summer if the lockout stretches that far. The article points out that if the Mets were willing to pay Luis Garcia almost $2 million, Duarte can battle for a job next spring.
There’s also a trade angle here, even if his market value probably isn’t huge. Because he does have minor league options for the remainder of 2026, contenders could see him as an eighth- or ninth-inning depth piece, while teams with rough bullpens might view him as more than that.
The Mets have already shown with Tyler Zuber and Huascar Brazoban at the 2024 trade deadline that not every deal is about a two-month rental. Zuber didn’t appear for the Mets until 2025 and logged just one inning, while Brazoban struggled in his first year before becoming a key part of the relief group over the last two seasons.
For now, Duarte is still the kind of arm easy to overlook. But with six-plus scoreless innings, one hit allowed, and a profile built on ground balls, he’s made himself a real conversation piece.
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