Mets LHP Josh Smoker, who made his big league debut this past season, discussed that and more with SNY earlier this week.
Smoker was a first-round pick of the Nationals in the 2007 MLB Draft, but numerous injuries and surgeries -- including ones for a torn rotator cuff and labrum -- led to his much-delayed major league debut.
"After everything that I had been through, just to know that I had finally made it was definitely something that I waited my whole life for," Smoker said.
Smoker, who credited Triple-A Las Vegas pitching coach Frank Viola and former Triple-A manager Wally Backman with helping him reach the majors, wants to improve his numbers against left-handers in 2017.