Tylor Megill raised some eyebrows when he opened the 2022 season pumping 99 mph fastballs past Nationals hitters on Opening Day, a noticeable jump from the 94.6 mph he was averaging on his heater as a rookie in 2021.
The sophomore was at it again on Tuesday night, mowing down the Phillies and tossing 5.1 shutout innings while averaging 97 mph on his fastball and topping out at 99.
What is Megill's secret for the jump in velocity? His teammates, specifically reliever Drew Smith, are trying to get on the Megill regimen.
"I'm trying to get on the Megill program," Smith laughed after the Mets shutout win over the Phillies. "Red Bull and two Advils, that's what he told me.
"I tried it, I got an extra tick. We're gonna try it again next time."
Megill fanned five hitters on Tuesday, allowing just three hits against no walks, keeping his ERA at zero through two starts this season. New York obviously misses Jacob deGrom, but Megill has been everything the team could have hoped for in his place, especially after passing what manager Buck Showalter said would be a tough test in a potent Philadelphia lineup that includes MVP Bryce Harper.
"I think he answered it, huh?" Showalter said. "He was pretty good…got to the sixth inning tonight, that's huge."
Must be all the energy drinks and Advils. But whatever lies behind Megill's velocity boost, the command has been there as well, and he looks like an unexpected shutdown arm in a rotation that needs steady starters.
"Lots of confidence, for sure," Megill said. "Obviously, all my stuff's working really well right now. Just gotta keep going out…filling up the strike zone and keep getting ahead of hitters."
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