Mets recall Chris Mazza, designate Wilmer Font for assignment

Prior to tonight’s game against the Miami Marlins, the New York Mets announced that they have recalled Chris Mazza from Triple-A. To make room for Mazza, the club designated Wilmer Font for assignment.

The Mets acquired Font in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays that sent 18-year-old right-handed pitcher Neraldo Catalina to the Rays. The deal was completed in early May with the team looking for starting pitching depth after both Jason Vargas and Steven Matz went down with injuries. Font made three starts at the beginning of his tenure in New York allowed nine earned runs on 12 hits over 10.1 innings, with a 7.56 FIP and a 1.74 WHIP.

From there, he transitioned to the bullpen, where he didn’t fare all that much better. In 20.2 innings, he pitched to a 3.48 ERA and a 5.91 FIP, with a 20.7% strikeout rate and an 8.1% walk rate. He was more effective towards the beginning of his time in the pen, but faltered badly as of late. His worst outing came on June 25, when he took the ball from Walker Lockett and proceeded to allow three earned runs while recording just one out to take the loss. He was charged with two earned runs in each of his last two outings against the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies.

After toiling away in the minor leagues for the past eight seasons, the 29-year-old Mazza finally made his major league debut on June 29 against the Atlanta Braves. Following a rain delay that forced Matz out after just two innings, Mazza stepped in to provide four solid innings of relief in his debut. He allowed a run to score in the third but held the Braves off the board for the remainder of his outing. He struck out two and allowed five hits without issuing a walk.