Stock is up for Robert Stock.
The Mets’ pre-trade-deadline rotation shuffling created an unexpected opportunity for Stock, a 36-year-old right-hander, to make his first MLB start since 2021.
Stock was sharp in Sunday afternoon’s 2-0 loss to the Miami Marlins at Citi Field, allowing one run over five innings with four strikeouts in an emotional return to the majors.
“It means everything,” said Stock, who choked back tears as he reflected on his journey.
“The work that my family does to support me — my two kids at home with my wife — knowing they’re there watching me, watching me in the big leagues, it’s pretty cool.”
A fifth-inning solo home run by Joe Mack accounted for the only damage against Stock, who limited Miami to three hits without a walk over 70 pitches.
Stock threw five different types of pitches during Sunday’s outing, including a four-seam fastball that averaged 96.3 mph.
He took a hard-luck loss, however, as Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara (6-plus innings) and the Miami bullpen shut out the Mets (47-66) to take three out of four in Queens.
“His stuff is good,” Mets interim manager Andy Green said of Stock. “If he’s in the strike zone, which he was today, he’s tough. It was really good to see. He should take a ton of pride in the way he threw the ball today. He was really good.”
The Mets, who are among MLB’s most active sellers, kept their rotation plans fluid throughout the weekend in the lead-up to Monday’s 6 p.m. trade deadline.
They scratched right-hander Freddy Peralta from his scheduled start on Friday night, then traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays for three minor-league prospects on Sunday.
Clay Holmes (fibula fracture) could have been activated from the injured list to start Sunday. But as trade rumors continued to swirl around the veteran right-hander, the Mets opted to have Holmes make another rehab start Sunday with High-A Brooklyn, where he allowed four runs (three earned) in 5.1 innings on 73 pitches.
That led to an opening for Stock, whom the Mets called up from Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday morning.
Stock made his MLB debut for the San Diego Padres in 2018. Since then, he’s also pitched in the majors for the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs; professionally in Korea and Mexico; and for the independent-league New Jersey Jackals and Long Island Ducks.
Entering Sunday, Stock was 2-4 with a 4.90 ERA over 57 major-league appearances, including three starts. His previous MLB outing in any capacity came last year with the Boston Red Sox, with whom he made two relief appearances.
“I’ve had him in three places now,” said Green, who was the Padres manager from 2016-19 and the Cubs bench coach from 2020-23.
“He made his debut under me in San Diego as a reliever who threw 100 [mph], and he’s reinvented himself into a sidearm starter. Nine years later, and he’s still pitching. It’s impressive, frankly.”
This is Stock’s second stint with the Mets, as he also started two games for them in 2021, pitching to a 5.40 ERA.
Stock, who rejoined the Mets in November on a minor-league contract, has leaned into analytics to extend his career, including using artificial intelligence to help build a pitching analytics platform called Stockyard Baseball.
In March, Stock was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome after pitching for Team Israel at the World Baseball Classic, requiring surgery.
He began a rehab assignment in June and has totaled eight minor-league appearances (six starts) this season, pitching to a 2.91 ERA with 31 strikeouts in 21.2 innings with High-A Brooklyn and Triple-A Syracuse.
Following Sunday’s successful return to the majors, Stock will remain in the discussion for another big-league start, Green said.
“It felt great,” Stock said. “Thinking about where I was a couple of months ago, where I couldn’t lift my arm above my head, to pitching at Citi Field is as much of a dream come true as could be.”
MISSED CHANCES
The Mets squandered multiple prime scoring opportunities late in Sunday’s game.
After loading the bases with no outs in the seventh, the Mets couldn’t break through against reliever Michael Petersen. Jorge Polanco and Francisco Alvarez both struck out before A.J. Ewing grounded out, maintaining a 1-0 Marlins lead.
That remained the score when the Mets failed to capitalize on Francisco Lindor’s double to lead off the eighth.
In the ninth, Ewing flew out with two men on base for the final out against Pete Fairbanks.
BROOKS AND DONE?
Brooks Raley, one of the Mets’ top trade candidates, pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning Sunday in what could be his final appearance with the team.
The left-handed reliever, who is an impending free agent, boasts a 1.96 ERA this year.
“This organization’s done so much for me,” said Raley, who acknowledged Sunday’s appearance was emotional.
“I’ve been here for four years. [They] believed in me coming back from Tommy John, so a lot of great memories here. Obviously, all those things have a factor, but a good day of eight pitches and an opportunity to win a game.”
Right-handed relievers Luke Weaver and Huascar Brazobán — both of whom remain under team control beyond this season — also pitched a scoreless inning apiece.
Both have been the subject of trade rumors, too.
“I checked in with [president of baseball operations] David [Stearns] right before I went out to manage that game and was told everyone was available,” Green said.
“Nothing changed that, so we managed the game accordingly. Those guys did a great job. They’re continuing to prove who they are — some of the best relievers in baseball.”
ROSTER MOVES
MJ Melendez was one of several Mets designated for assignment on Sunday.
Melendez hit .192 with four home runs in 56 games with the Mets, but the 27-year-old outfielder had been at Triple-A since late June.
The Mets also DFA’d relievers Kevin Herget and Joey Gerber while claiming catcher Shawn Ross off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
