Mets reliever Jenrry Mejia will be reinstated

New York Mets relief pitcher Jenrry Mejia will be reinstated by Major League Baseball in 2019. Mejia had received a lifetime ban before the 2016 season for failing a drug test for PEDs for the third time.

Mejia met with MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, who released the following statement:

“Under the terms of our collectively bargained Joint Drug Program, a permanently suspended player like Mr. Mejia has the right to apply to me for discretionary reinstatement after serving a minimum of two years. Upon receiving Mr. Mejia’s application for reinstatement last year, I invited him to New York to meet with me. During our meeting, Mr. Mejia expressed regret for poor choices he made in the past and assured me that, if reinstated, he would adhere to the terms of the Program going forward. In light of Mr. Mejia’s contrition, his commitment to comply with the Program in the future, and the fact that he will have already spent almost four consecutive years suspended without pay, I have decided to grand Mr. Mejia a final chance to resume his professional career.”

The Mets’ statement on Mejia’s reinstatement reads:

“Jenrry Mejia has abided by the terms set forth by Commissioner Manfred, and we appreciate his regret and renewed commitment to comply moving forward. We will evaluate his progress on the field and assess the situation and our options in the coming months.”

In the short term, Mejia be allowed to participate in workouts using Mets facilities after the All-Star break and pitch in the minor leagues starting in mid-August. He last pitched for the Mets in 2015, when he threw just 7.1 innings over the course of seven appearances with a 0.00 ERA. He had a 3.65 ERA in 93.2 major league innings in 2014 and fared much better as a reliever than as a starter that year.