MIAMI — Jack Leathersich landed here Wednesday morning on a redeye flight from Las Vegas, slept for maybe an hour or two at the team hotel, then came to Marlins Park for his first day as a major league reliever. His new manager, Terry Collins, and pitching coach, Dan Warthen, stopped by his locker and gave him some advice.
“They just said welcome, congratulations, be ready,” Leathersich said.
Rookie or not, the Mets would most likely be relying on him soon enough.
One of the more remarkable aspects of the Mets’ early success this season has been the performance of their misfit bullpen, a group of eight pitchers that now includes a first-time closer, four rookies, a journeyman and no clear-cut setup men.