Chris Mazza: Mets Relief Pitcher (2019)
Chris James Mazza was born on October 17th, 1989 in Walnut Creek California. After attending Menlo College, in San Mateo County, the six foot four right hander, was picked by the Minnesota Twins in the 27th round in 2012. He toiled at the Rookie & A ball levels with Minnesota until 2016 where he became part of the Miami Marlins organization. At one point his career was set back when he broke his wrist, having a cast on for over six months.
The life long reliever, even began making some starts in the next few seasons. In 2017 in the Southern League, he struck out a career high 93 batters, while going 4-7 with a 3.01 ERA. He continued to work & never gave up.
In 2018 he reached AAA, but also got released & pitched 17 games in an Independent League in California. Overall he would spend the year with three MLB teams, the Miami Marlins, Seattle Mariners & the New York Mets. The Mets picked him up in December's Rule 5 Draft.
In 2019 reaching the age of 29, he pitched for the Mets at AA Binghamton going 0-2 with a 3.42 ERA with 21 strike outs in 23 innings of work. He was sent to AAA Syracuse going 3-3 with 44 strike outs in 49 innings posting a 3.67 ERA. At both levels since joining the Mets he was primarily a starting pitcher with 12 starts overall.
Mazza was watching as the 2019 Mets were taking another loss on in Philadelphia, he then got a call from his coach Tony DeFrancesco telling him he was going to the big leagues, joining the Mets.On Saturday June 29th, Mazza made his debut after a rain delay at Citi Field where the Mets honored the 1969 World Champion Mets.
His parents & girlfriend were in attendance at the game. As the tarp came off the field, he warmed up & was ready for his big MLB debut at age 29.Quotes- Chris Mazza: "For it to finally get here was amazing, It was a dream come true. I'll never forget it for the rest of my life".
Nervous at first he gave up two hits & a run in his first three batters. But then he settled in.
Mazza said " Two hits right away, not how I planned. I think there was a little bit of nerves & everything & then once that went away- now it's time to compete".
He pitched well enough, to become the first Met pitcher in a debut, since Jacob DeGrom in 2014 to throw at least four innings & allow no more than one run. He would have even won the game & gotten a victory if the bullpen didn't blow another one.He made three appearances in July, taking am extra inning loss to the Giants in San Francisco on July 18th. After Mazza got three outs in the bottom of the 15th inning, Pete Alonso homered in the top of the 16th to give the Mets the lead.
He returned at the end of August finishing off a Met loss & then the 11-5 win over the Phillies, but allowed four earned runs in that one. He made two more appearances in Mets wins in September. In eight games he was 0-1 with a 5.74 ERA, 11 strike outs 5 walks in 15.2 innings.