The Mets reinstated Justin Hagenman from the 60-day IL on September 2, 2026, and he is expected to start against the Rays on Wednesday night. To make room, New York sent Dylan Ross back to Triple-A and filled the last opening on its 40-man roster.
For Hagenman, the move puts him back in the middle of the game plan after a spring rib fracture cost him more than four months. He did not begin his rehab assignment until midway through August, then built back with three starts and reached 64 pitches over four innings for Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, a sign that he is close enough to help but not yet fully stretched out.
That is why this start looks more like a bridge than a full return. Charlie Wright said Hagenman is expected to draw the start tonight, but he also indicated the outing will likely be somewhat limited, which leaves the Mets to manage the game inning by inning instead of treating it like a normal rotation turn. Wednesday’s appearance, in other words, seems to be a spot start for Hagenman.
The timing matters because New York needed a pitcher for this game and chose the one arm already on the way back. Hagenman made his MLB debut in April, worked 23 2/3 innings over nine appearances with one start last season for the Mets, and even picked up his first MLB save in August by covering the final four innings of a blowout win over the Diamondbacks. The club has used him as both a starter and a reliever, which makes a short assignment against the Rays easier to fit than a traditional start.
Ross’ move back to Triple-A follows his own quick rise. He made his MLB debut last night, retired the side in order on 11 pitches in the seventh inning against the Rays, and touched 99 mph multiple times with his fastball. His pro debut was delayed by two years because of elbow issues, so even a brief stint with the big-league club is another step in a long climb. For now, the Mets have traded one rookie look for a more familiar arm, and the only real question is how much Hagenman can give before the workload plan runs out.
