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Mets' Jefry Yan is Making Case for Bullpen Role Beyond 2026
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- Mets' Jefry Yan is Making Case for Bullpen Role Beyond 2026
Most of the players the New York Mets moved at this summer's MLB trade deadline were relievers.
A.J. Minter , Huascar Brazobán, Brooks Raley , and Luke Weaver were all dealt to buyers.
Those moves opened the door for relievers like Jefry Yan to get their first taste of the major leagues and prove themselves as reliable options in the Mets bullpen down the stretch.
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However, the 30-year-old southpaw struggled, posting a 5.68 ERA and 1.89 WHIP over his first 13 appearances. Command was also an issue for Yan, as he issued 11 walks over 12.2 innings while striking out 17 hitters.
Those struggles led to Yan being optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Sept. 6. Yet he quickly found himself back in the majors, as Yan, along with right-hander Xzavion Curry , was recalled on Sept. 16 after Daniel Duarte (left hamstring strain) and Robert Stock (finger numbness) both landed on the 15-day injured list.
Although the sample size is small since Yan returned, he has been great. Furthermore, he is emerging as a legitimate bullpen option for New York in 2027.
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Jefry Yan Impressing Since Returning to Mets Bullpen
Yan made the first appearance of his second major league run on Sept. 16 against the Baltimore Orioles .
He was perfect over three innings, allowing no base runners and striking out the side in the sixth inning.
Yan followed that outing with two more scoreless appearances over the weekend against the Philadelphia Phillies , striking out four while allowing a walk and two hits over 2.1 innings.
Despite being a revolving door in 2026, the Mets' bullpen has been a bright spot amid a disappointing season. The group's 3.78 ERA is the ninth-best mark in baseball.
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New York has seen several new faces, like Duarte (2.12 ERA) and Nate Lavender (1.93 ERA), step up amid the Mets' massive bullpen overhaul.
While Yan's 4.00 ERA over 16 appearances this season isn't ideal, his recent performance is incredibly encouraging. His great run to end the year is also setting him up to be a valuable piece of New York's bullpen beyond 2026.
In a group with very little combined major-league experience, the more Yan impresses, the more likely he is to become a go-to reliever moving forward.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Sep 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
