Noah Syndergaard wants ‘to remind people he’s still alive’ — as he’s taunted by MLB comeback dream

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Noah Syndergaard wants ‘to remind people he’s still alive’ — as he’s taunted by MLB comeback dream

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Noah Syndergaard of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on from the dugout, Image 2 shows Noah Syndergaard pitching in the first inning for the New York Mets, Image 3 shows President Trump and others in the Oval Office, gathered to sign a proclamation on the presidential fitness test

Matt Ehalt · NY Post Sports

Wed, Aug 12, 2026 ·

3 min read

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For years, Noah Syndergaard and reporter Leo Sepkowitz could not link up for an interview.

Typical Mets craziness. Syndergaard undergoing Tommy John surgery. The forgettable post-New York years that — for now — put a bow on a career that began with such promise.

This April, the stars finally aligned when Syndergaard OK'd an interview.

Noah Syndergaard of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on from the dugout in the fifth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Getty Images

"To remind people I'm still alive, I guess," the pitcher once known as "Thor" told GQ .

That melancholy statement offered a glimpse into how life has changed for Syndergaard since his prime years as one of the Mets' aces, including during the special run to the 2015 World Series.

Syndergaard last fired a pitch on Aug. 27, 2023, with the Guardians, surrendering five runs in six innings. He was two days shy of his 31st birthday.

He's now 33, an age where plenty of pitchers can still perform like aces.

The saying goes that the hitters let you know when your career is over, and opposing batters tattooed him to the tune of a 6.50 ERA across 88 ⅔ innings in that 2023 season.

Yet Syndergaard hasn't given up on his dream.

Noah Syndergaard of the New York Mets pitches in the first inning of game 2 of a double header against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, at Citi Field in New York City. Getty Images

He lives near ex-Met teammate Jacob deGrom , who is still pitching at a strong level at the age of 38, and that provides some inspiration.

"That gives me hope," Syndergaard told GQ. "I still have intentions probably. Maybe it's just delusion."

He added: "The carrot's not necessarily money. The carrot is like, I want my identity back."

Noah Syndergaard (back) stands with Gary Player (l.) and Bryson DeChambeau while President Donald Trump (r.) speaks to kids during an event for the Presidential Fitness Test on May 5, 2026. Getty Images

While a Syndergaard return wouldn't be unprecedented, his last four years in the big leagues did not inspire confidence.

His career took a turn for the worse when he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2020, and he posted a 3.94 ERA for the Phillies and Angels in his first full season back in 2022.

A ghastly 7.16 ERA with the Dodgers in 2023 led to him lasting just 12 starts with a team known for extracting value and production from players.

Even the Guardians, one of MLB's best pitching organizations, could not fix him.

Syndergaard noted that plenty of individuals attempted to fix him but to no avail, especially since he developed a "minor form" of the yips.

The yips are when players suddenly lose their ability, like ex-Yankee second baseman Chuck Knoblauch and ex-pitcher-turned-outfielder Rick Ankiel.

Syndergaard told GQ it stemmed from a setback he suffered while battling elbow inflammation in 2021.

He reportedly tried meditation, reading, hypnosis and other tactics to battle the yips, but to no avail.

"I'd be mid-delivery, and I'm like, 'Whoa, what's going on right now?'" Syndergaard told GQ.

It left him feeling disconnected from his ace years.

Said Syndergaard: "I look at that person, I don't even know who that was, both physically and mentally."

Syndergaard has spent recent years focused on health initiatives and has worked with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. while becoming known in right-wing circles .

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