January 21, 2026 6:09 PM PST
PORT ST. LUCIE After a complicated and scary injury, Paul Blackburns return was straightforward. Acce Terrance Ferguson Jersey s the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. He started the on Wednesday and to sed a clean 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout and two ground outs. It marked his first outing since suffering a cerebrospinal fluid leak late last season and undergoing surgery in which doctors shaved bone spurs around a capsule in his spine that was punctured, drained spinal fluid and stitched the capsule in October. Blackburn needed just seven pitches all strikes. The plan was for one inning, so his quick frame prompted him to throw 15 more pitches in the bullpen to get to the teams desired workload for him. Explore More Huge day, manager Carlos Mendoza said. Its a big day for him, its a big day for us, because it wasnt easy what he went through. It was pretty scary when he got the news. And the fact that its not even March only one inning today, but hes in live competition, facing another team. Huge step for him, proud of him. It means a lot that hes pitching in games this early. Paul Blackburn throws in the first inning of the Mets 4-1 spring training lo s to the Marlins on Feb. 26, 2025, Corey Sipkin for the NY POST Frankie Montas (lat strain) and Sean Manaeas (oblique strain) injuries have put Blackburn firmly in the mix to earn a rotation spot. The Mets acquired the 31-year-old Blackburn from the As just before the trade deadline last year in exchange for minor league pitching prospect Kade Morris. In five starts with the Mets, he recorded a 5.18 ERA before being shut down. I had the normal jitters and a little anxiety before the game, just wanting to start, some excitement, Blackburn said. I feel like today was a good step in the right direction. I feel good. I feel good out there, feel like I can move the ball, feel like I can spin stuff like I normally have. Everything feels good out there. Kodai Senga, Clay Holmes and David Peterson appear to be locks for the rotation. That leaves Blackburn, Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning as the next most likely candidates competing for the final two spots on the staff. Neither Megill nor Canning have seen any game action this spring. Paul Blackburn walks off the mound after the first inning of the Mets spring training lo s to the Marlins on Feb. 26, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST Wednesday marked a strong start for Blackburn toward claiming one of those spots. Im extremely excited about this year kind of put everything from last year behind me, Blackburn said. Feel like Im in a good spot right now. Joel Embiid Jersey
PORT ST. LUCIE After a complicated and scary injury, Paul Blackburns return was straightforward. Acce Terrance Ferguson Jersey s the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. He started the on Wednesday and to sed a clean 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout and two ground outs. It marked his first outing since suffering a cerebrospinal fluid leak late last season and undergoing surgery in which doctors shaved bone spurs around a capsule in his spine that was punctured, drained spinal fluid and stitched the capsule in October. Blackburn needed just seven pitches all strikes. The plan was for one inning, so his quick frame prompted him to throw 15 more pitches in the bullpen to get to the teams desired workload for him. Explore More Huge day, manager Carlos Mendoza said. Its a big day for him, its a big day for us, because it wasnt easy what he went through. It was pretty scary when he got the news. And the fact that its not even March only one inning today, but hes in live competition, facing another team. Huge step for him, proud of him. It means a lot that hes pitching in games this early. Paul Blackburn throws in the first inning of the Mets 4-1 spring training lo s to the Marlins on Feb. 26, 2025, Corey Sipkin for the NY POST Frankie Montas (lat strain) and Sean Manaeas (oblique strain) injuries have put Blackburn firmly in the mix to earn a rotation spot. The Mets acquired the 31-year-old Blackburn from the As just before the trade deadline last year in exchange for minor league pitching prospect Kade Morris. In five starts with the Mets, he recorded a 5.18 ERA before being shut down. I had the normal jitters and a little anxiety before the game, just wanting to start, some excitement, Blackburn said. I feel like today was a good step in the right direction. I feel good. I feel good out there, feel like I can move the ball, feel like I can spin stuff like I normally have. Everything feels good out there. Kodai Senga, Clay Holmes and David Peterson appear to be locks for the rotation. That leaves Blackburn, Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning as the next most likely candidates competing for the final two spots on the staff. Neither Megill nor Canning have seen any game action this spring. Paul Blackburn walks off the mound after the first inning of the Mets spring training lo s to the Marlins on Feb. 26, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST Wednesday marked a strong start for Blackburn toward claiming one of those spots. Im extremely excited about this year kind of put everything from last year behind me, Blackburn said. Feel like Im in a good spot right now. Joel Embiid Jersey