January 19th 2021, The Padres top off their unworldly offseason with the trade acquisition of RHP Joe Musgrove from the Pirates. The rotation seemed stacked with proven veteran leadership, the Padres completely changed the dynamic of their ball club to keep a winning team every year in and out. The Padres were saying goodbye to their mediocre past and saying hello to the golden and black future that lay ahead. Part of this trade between the Padres and Pirates were the Mets. The Mets came in as a surprise team swooping in to take Joey Luchessi, former ‘ace’ of the Padres from 2018-2019. Ace is taken lightly because the Padres were not a good team at this time and it didn’t reflect well with Luchessi’s starts. He was a bit below league average, so nothing that is thought to be kept once all this new talent filled up the Padres roster.

It was the end of an era, an era Luchessi never really got to situate himself in. Moving across the country to the Northeast to spend the 2021 season with the Mets didn’t really do him much service as he struggled in his first year with the Mets. Going 1-4, it seemed like his struggles will continue over to the Mets. Injuries and on and off play held back Luchessi to be at his best. In April and May he had a combined 6.50 ERA in 23 innings between the months. It seemed like the Mets were in for trouble with the lefty, that was until June. In a small sample size of 15 innings, Joey Luchessi held batters to a .226 OBA giving him a 1.20 ERA the lowest pitching staff ERA of June. It seemed Joey Luchessi was having luck with his new team and unique pitching style- ‘the churve’ the pitch Luchessi named as the characteristics reminiscent of a curveball and changeup that Lucchesi refers to as a churve.

It seemed things were starting to click for Luchessi and the Mets, until more injuries set him back and unfortunately lead to being out the entire rest of the 2021 season due to a need for Tommy John surgery. It seemed terrible for Luchessi who after getting situated with New York flipped the script and went down with surgery. He was out the remaining part of the year and all of 2022. It seemed some positives were shinning in the horizon for Luchessi as he had a 2.30 ERA in 12.2 innings pitched in triple A. He never had the opportunity to pitch for the tail end of the 2022 season as bountiful healthy pitching kept back Luchessi from making his season debut.

If you can describe the Mets in one word for the biggest problems they’ve had in their history is: pitching. Pitching, pitching, pitching. Nothing stings more than not having stable depth for pitching. And that was the modo the Mets went by this offseason. At all costs they must be ready for anything and all problems. So pitching depth was the #1 first priority. Especially after loosing Jacob Degrom it became absolutely crucial to have an impactful pitcher and others to stabilize the loss of free agents; Chris Bassitt Taijuan Walker, Seth Lugo and Trevor Williams leaving with Degrom. The Mets went on a flurry and signed Justin Verlander to pair him with Max Scherzer at the top of the rotation. They brought Jose Quintana a LHP who had a 2.40 ERA last season with the Cardinals/Pirates. And Kodai Senga a Japanese Phenom on the mound. As well as this they also had had the player option extended to Carlos Carrassco, and had their young depth in David Peterson and Tylor Megill. And then there was Joey Luchessi, who after spending all 2022 away and not pitching in two years was an afterthought for the Mets.

Well after 3 weeks of baseball, the Mets projected rotation is completely different. Justin Verlander felt arm discomfort on opening day, so Mets decided to take things slow with the fine wine. Max Scherzer was ejected and suspended by baseball for 10 days for allegedly having illegal substances on his hands in between plays. Jose Quintana had left side tightness that turned to having surgery, Carrassco is having major discomfort with bone chip in elbow. And to make things better star closer, Edwin Diaz goes on 60day IL for lightly celebrating on the mound during the WBC game causing a full-thickness tear of the patellar tendon in his right knee.

The once luxurious pitching depth the Mets had looked rail thin now. Everyone and anyone was called up from triple AAA to try and fill the major holes in their 26 man roster. The Mets even went through the waiver wire picking up Dennis Santana for a stretch, Denyi Reyes, and Edwin Ucenta. Yet still behind all the mayhem and disaster Luchessi made himself comfortable as the ace of the triple AAA team. In 3 games started and around 5 innings per start, Joey Luchessi put up a 2.30 ERA and a perfect record, 2-0. It seemed like Luchessi should be called up for his pronounced success in the minors, but knowing the Mets they prioritize veteran arms barring any injuries to change their 26 man roster.

The Mets were running on thin ice and were leaning on their formidable ace ‘Max Scherzer’ against the Dodgers on Wednesday April 19th, going 4 scoreless innings until MLB officials thought Scherzer had used rosin and sweat too much where it has become an illegal substance on Scherzer’s hands. Too much rosin and sweat makes the ball too sticky for MLB’s strict rules which called for an immediate 10 game suspension for the Mad dog.

All worry broke loss, the state of the future Mets rotation looked miserable, there was no formidable aces at the top of the rotation. The best this rotation had was Kodai Senga who was still being situated playing in America after his switch from Japan. Confident in his stuff, Luchessi believed he could finally be the next one up to the throne. And that he was. Joey Luchessi was called up Saturday in a move that sent John Curtiss to the minors. This would be his first time pitching in the majors nonetheless starting a game in over 694 days since he last appeared in 2021.

Joey Luchessi would go on to to face the Giants on the road that Friday night. Joey Fuego nailed it through his first pitching appearance in over two years. He went 7 shutout innings with only 4 hits and 2 walks and 9 strikeouts for 7 lights out innings. He was everything the Mets could have asked for and more, he did what they needed. He was the first Mets pitcher to pitch into the 7th inning this year, all fell short of the task but Joey Luchessi did not fail to impress in the shinning spotlight. Two pitchers have had successful debuts after missing an entire season prior and both pitched for the Mets. Matt Harvey in 2015 after coming back from Tommy John pitched 7 scoreless innings with 9 punch outs and Joey Luchessi on Friday night.

It was a massive success story for Luchessi who failed to impress with his time with the Padres and the Mets before shunning the crowd with the best start of his career. It was awesome, it is awesome to know Joey Fuego is back and healthy throwing the churve. After years of doubt and trouble Luchessi is back and ready to perform more games under the spotlight and with the orange and blue.