A Mets catcher has taken on the unusual role of tracking nearly every pitch from the team’s newest reliever, a task that has grown increasingly difficult due to the reliever’s unpredictable fastball. The assignment has become so demanding that it has sparked amusement among observers, highlighting the unusual challenge posed by the pitcher’s delivery. With no other major league catcher having faced the same volume of his pitches, the situation underscores both the reliever’s prominence in the rotation and the unique adjustments required for those behind the plate. The dynamic offers a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes struggles of adapting to an unconventional pitcher.
No one at the major league level has seen more of Nate Lavender’s fastball than Luis Torrens, whose job catching the new Mets reliever has gone from challenging to almost comical.
