Lonely ... I'm Mr. Lonely ...

[Cowtipper]

Mr. Wendal, now I get it. 

 

[Cowtipper]

Today's hint: 

Drafted in the 35th round, this Nevada-born right-handed reliever spent six seasons working his way through the Mets' farm system before making his major league debut in 2017 by striking out two batters in a scoreless inning. He went 2–0 with a 3.74 ERA in 28 appearances for the Mets before being claimed off waivers by the Mariners, where he finished his big league career undefeated with a 7–0 record.

[Cowtipper]

Today's hint: 

A former first-round draft pick who waited a decade to reach the majors, this Nevada-born infielder made his big league debut with the Mets in 2021 against the team that originally drafted him. He collected just one hit in five games for New York before later appearing with the Diamondbacks, and eventually returned to the Mets organization as a Double-A coach.

[Cowtipper]

Today's hint: 

This Nevada-born veteran outfielder overcame years of injuries and a vision disorder before breaking out with a 20–20 season in St. Louis, later becoming known as much for his fiery personality as his production. With the Mets in 2023 he revived his value by hitting .268 with 10 home runs before being traded at the deadline, then returned for a brief second stint in 2026.

[seawolf17]

Pham!

[Cowtipper]

Tommy Pham is correct.

Another hint:

A former Team USA Pan American Games silver medalist, this Nevada-born reliever endured a brutal start to his big league career before reinventing himself as one of baseball's top late-inning arms. He debuted with the Mets in 2017 and spent four seasons in New York, where he finally earned his first major league win after 118 appearances—then blossomed into a 100-save closer after leaving the organization.

[seawolf17]

Sewald.

[Cowtipper]

Paul Sewald is correct.

Another hint:

This Nevada-born left-handed reliever spent parts of nine seasons in the majors with eight different teams, but some of his best work came in the Bronx before later returning to New York in Queens. Across two stints with the Mets, he appeared in 44 games, including a reliable 2020 season in which he posted a 3.96 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 25 innings.

[Cowtipper]

Today's hint:

This New Hampshire-born left-handed pitcher reached the majors for the first time at age 28 after seven seasons in the minors and made the most of his brief opportunity. In his only big league season, he went 3–0 with a 1.50 ERA in 14 bullpen appearances for the 1995 Mets, yet never pitched another major league game.

[duan]

On 7/27/2026 at 5:06 PM, Edgy MD said:

Oh, you're in the politics NOW!!!!

In fairness to the quizmaster, the gerrymandered statelet of Northern Ireland was under different authority at the time of his birth than it was at the time of his brief Mets career, so it leaves ambiguity with regard to the question.

Mets Roster Central went with the Northern Ireland flag for Falls Road-born PJ.  We would do the same with any future Scottish, Welsh, or Manx Mets.

"United," my butt.  Or my arse.  Let's go with arse.

I can't be 100% sure, but I strongly suspect PJ wouldn't be singing God Save The King as his national anthem (he's probably more likely to sing The Star Spanlged Banner I suppose) and he's entitled to an Irish passport. 

I saw raise the tricolour and be damned ;) 

[Edgy MD]

4 hours ago, duan said:

I can't be 100% sure, but I strongly suspect PJ wouldn't be singing God Save The King as his national anthem (he's probably more likely to sing The Star Spanlged Banner I suppose) and he's entitled to an Irish passport. 

I saw raise the tricolour and be damned ;) 

Word up.  And in the silence of the night, I certainly agree with you about PJ. 

[seawolf17]

The 1995 New Hampshirean is Don Florence.

[Cowtipper]

Whatever,  it can't be that big a deal, I'm pretty sure Ireland and the UK are basically the same thing anyway. 

[Benjamin Grimm]

42 minutes ago, Cowtipper said:

Whatever,  it can't be that big a deal, I'm pretty sure Ireland and the UK are basically the same thing anyway. 

I'm not sure if you're trolling or if you really think this.

[Cowtipper]

2 hours ago, Benjamin Grimm said:

I'm not sure if you're trolling or if you really think this.

What? Honestly, they should just be one country, it'd be much more convenient. Wonder if they ever tried that.

Don Florence is correct.

Next hint:

This hard-throwing Panamanian right-hander earned the nicknames "Señor Smoke" and "El Gasolino" for his blazing fastball, eventually winning two World Series with different franchises. He debuted with the Mets in 1978 but struggled with control during his three seasons in New York before blossoming into an effective reliever elsewhere, highlighted by a standout 1987 championship season with the Twins.

[Edgy MD]

Trolling is bad.

[Cowtipper]

I'm part English and part Irish. I'm also part German and part Polish. Maybe that's why I have so much internal conflict. 

[Cowtipper]

Today's hint:

This Panamanian right-handed pitcher was named the Rangers’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2015 after going 12–1 with a 2.45 ERA, later making his MLB debut with Texas in 2018. He was traded to the Mets in August 2020 for Stephen Villines and cash considerations, but never appeared in a major-league game for New York before being nontendered that December.

[Cowtipper]

I'll start posting multiple hints per post now so we can put this thread to rest:

1. A Panamanian right-handed pitcher, he made his MLB debut with the Braves in 2007 and later pitched for the Mets from 2010–12, posting a 3.45 ERA in 2011 before struggling in his final season with the club. He also represented Panama in the World Baseball Classic and later pitched for the Yomiuri Giants and several Mexican League teams.

2. This Panamanian left-handed pitcher spent 17 seasons in the majors, playing for 11 teams and appearing in the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classics. He spent part of 2001 and 2002 with the Mets, including starting the first game at Shea Stadium after September 11, when he pitched seven innings of one-run ball in a 3–2 victory over the Braves.

3. This Panamanian shortstop debuted with the Mets in 2010, later becoming their everyday starter at the position after José Reyes left, and spent the bulk of his MLB career in New York. His 2015 postseason ended abruptly when a controversial slide by Chase Utley broke his fibula in the NLDS, sidelining him for the rest of the Mets’ run to the World Series.

4. This pioneering South Korean pitcher became the first from his country to reach the major leagues and later had a brief, unsuccessful stint with the Mets in 2007, allowing seven runs in his only big-league appearance for the club before being released. He is better remembered for his strong seasons with the Dodgers, an All-Star nod, and for surrendering two grand slams in the same inning to Fernando Tatis.

5. This hard-throwing right-hander from the U.S. Virgin Islands was a 10th-round Mets draft pick who dominated the lower minors with elite strikeout rates before making his major-league debut for the club in 2015. That debut proved rocky, as he allowed five runs in just two-thirds of an inning against the Blue Jays and was promptly optioned back to the minors.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

5 Franklin Kilome??

that's not right

 

3- Ruben Tejada

[Cowtipper]

Ruben Tejada is correct! 

[Frayed Knot]

4: Chan Ho Park

[Cowtipper]

Chan Ho Park is correct! Today's hints:

1. This Utah-born right-hander carved out a 12-year big-league career as a reliable reliever and occasional closer, most notably with the Diamondbacks and Astros. He wrapped up his major-league days with a short stint for the Mets in 2013, making his final appearance that July before being released.

2. This West Virginia right-hander spent years as a journeyman before finding his stride as a reliable Mets starter in the late 1990s, posting double-digit wins, earning two All-Star nods, and helping the club reach the 2000 World Series. Earlier in his career he drew lasting controversy for pitching as a replacement player during the 1994-95 strike.

3. This West Virginia-born right-hander bounced around several MLB bullpens in the mid-2000s and made a single appearance for the Mets in 2007 after being acquired in a trade that sent Heath Bell the other way. He later thrived as a closer overseas, leading the Korean league in saves during his one season there.

4. This West Virginia right-hander spent parts of five seasons in the majors as a journeyman reliever, including a 16-game stint with the Mets in 2002 after a minor trade from Colorado. He also pitched for the Rockies, Brewers, and Phillies before wrapping up his career in Korea and independent ball.

5. We're swinging back around to Alaska to this one. Here's the hint I already provided:

An Alaskan-born left-handed pitcher, he spent seven seasons in the majors with the Pirates, Reds, and Mets, highlighted by a 10-win season and a complete-game shutout for Pittsburgh in 2005. Acquired by New York during the 2006 season, he earned a victory in his Mets debut while filling in for Pedro Martínez, but neck surgery limited him to just one start in 2007 before his final major league appearance.

And here's part 2: 

Expanded hint:

This left-handed pitcher is one of the rare major leaguers born in Alaska and spent the bulk of his career with the Pirates before brief stops with the Reds and Mets. Acquired by the Mets mid-2006, he delivered a solid debut start against the Cardinals and finished that year with a 3-1 record in limited action. Limited by neck surgery the following season, he made only a handful of appearances for New York before his final big-league outing in September 2007. He later pitched in Japan and was eventually inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame.

This left-hander ranked among National League leaders with a complete-game shutout in 2005 while also ranking high in double plays turned by a pitcher that same year. After being dealt from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati in a trade involving Sean Casey, he was flipped again mid-2006 to the Mets for a minor-league pitcher named Robert Manuel. His overall career value remained modest, as reflected in low WAR totals and similarity scores to other short-career starters like Rich Wortham, Reid Detmers and Harry Courtney.

 

[Frayed Knot]

#2 = Rick Reed

[Cowtipper]

Rick Reed is correct! 

Expanded hint for a different guy:

Original hint: A Nicaraguan right-hander who reached the majors at age 21, he began his career as a highly regarded Mariners prospect before becoming a versatile pitcher who moved between starting rotations and bullpens for several teams. He briefly joined the Mets in 2020, posting a 0.63 ERA in six relief appearances before hitting free agency and continuing his long MLB journey with several other clubs.

This Nicaraguan right-hander debuted with the Mariners and later bounced among many teams as both a starter and long reliever. In the shortened 2020 season he signed a minor-league deal with the Mets and delivered six strong appearances, posting a 0.63 ERA over 14⅓ innings. He also represented his country in the World Baseball Classic and once became the first pitcher in decades to start a game the day after recording a save. His career has been defined by durability and frequent roster moves across more than a dozen organizations.

This Nicaraguan right-hander ranked among American League leaders in both winning percentage and walks-plus-hits per inning during a strong 2015 season. He was originally signed by the Mariners as an amateur free agent and later involved in a pair of notable trades, first to the Rays for Mike Montgomery and then back to Seattle for Steve Cishek.

[Cowtipper]

Expanding another hint.

Original hint:

This right-handed pitcher was born in Germany, discovered almost by accident when a scout came to watch another player and instead saw him strike out 15 batters, then worked his way from a 16th-round draft pick to the major leagues. His entire big league career came with the Mets, appearing in just five relief outings across the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

New hint:

This switch-hitting right-hander was born in Germany while his father was stationed at a U.S. military base. Drafted by the Mets in the 16th round of the 2006 draft, he reached the majors as a September call-up in 2009. He appeared in just five big-league games, all as a reliever for New York, with his final outing coming in April 2010. After leaving organized baseball he continued pitching in independent leagues.

[Cowtipper]

Expanding another hint:

Original hint:

This Montana-born former big league catcher spent time with the Mariners, Padres, Mets, and Cardinals, but is perhaps best remembered for an unusual twist to his career: he pitched scoreless relief appearances as a position player for both the Mets and Cardinals. During his 2012 stint with New York, he hit .250 in limited action behind the plate while also becoming the first Mets position player since Todd Zeile to take the mound in a game.

More:

This Anaconda, Montana-born catcher spent parts of four seasons with the Mariners before brief stops with the Padres and Mets. In 2012 he became the first position player in nearly a decade to pitch for the Mets, retiring the side in order during a blowout. He later made another mound appearance with the Cardinals and even attempted a full conversion to pitching before an arm injury ended his career. Known for handling pitching staffs well, he finished with a career batting average of exactly .200.

This catcher led the American League in passed balls in 2010, while also ranking fourth in caught-stealing percentage that season. He was originally drafted by the Florida Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies before signing with the Seattle Mariners after being selected in the fourth round in 2004. He later spent time with the San Diego Padres, New York Mets, and St. Louis Cardinals during a career that included several free-agent moves.

[Cowtipper]

More expanded hints:

Original #1:

A slick-fielding infielder from Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles, this player was the second major leaguer from the island and later represented the Netherlands in both the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics. He appeared in just 10 games for the Mets in 1998 after previously winning a World Series with the Marlins.

Expanded:

Born in Curaçao, this infielder moved to the Netherlands as a child and eventually reached the major leagues with the Florida Marlins in 1996. He later spent a brief stint with the New York Mets and was part of the Marlins team that won the World Series. He also represented the Netherlands at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, earning tournament honors for his defense at second base. After retiring as a player, he became a coach in the Netherlands, including serving as a head coach in the Hoofdklasse.

He originally signed with the Florida Marlins as an amateur free agent in July 1992. In February 1998, he was traded to the New York Mets alongside Al Leiter in the blockbuster deal that sent A.J. Burnett and Jesús Sánchez to Florida. Exactly one year later, the Mets traded him to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for pitcher Mark Corey.

Original #2:

Drafted in the 35th round, this Nevada-born right-handed reliever spent six seasons working his way through the Mets' farm system before making his major league debut in 2017 by striking out two batters in a scoreless inning. He went 2–0 with a 3.74 ERA in 28 appearances for the Mets before being claimed off waivers by the Mariners, where he finished his big league career undefeated with a 7–0 record.

Expanded:

This Las Vegas native was drafted by the New York Mets in the 35th round of the 2011 MLB Draft and eventually reached the majors in 2017. He spent three seasons in the majors with the Mets and Seattle Mariners, going 7–0 overall and posting a 3.89 ERA in 87 appearances. After his playing career ended with the High Point Rockers in 2022, he later pursued a career in law enforcement in Nevada.

This right-handed pitcher was drafted by the New York Mets in the 35th round of the 2011 amateur draft. After beginning his career in the Mets organization, he was selected off waivers by the Seattle Mariners in 2018 and later signed with both Seattle and the Atlanta Braves as a free agent. His similarity scores most closely compare him to pitchers such as Casey Fien, Barry Manuel, and Andrew Wantz.

Original #3:

A former first-round draft pick who waited a decade to reach the majors, this Nevada-born infielder made his big league debut with the Mets in 2021 against the team that originally drafted him. He collected just one hit in five games for New York before later appearing with the Diamondbacks, and eventually returned to the Mets organization as a Double-A coach.

Expanded:

A Nevada high school star, he was named the state’s Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year after hitting .547 with 11 home runs as a senior. A first-round pick of the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011, he spent a decade in the minors before making his MLB debut with the New York Mets in 2021. He appeared in just five games for the Mets before moving through the Brewers, Mariners, and Diamondbacks organizations, eventually finishing his MLB career with Arizona in 2022. After retiring as a player in 2024, he began a coaching career with the Mets organization in 2026.

This infielder was selected 32nd overall in the first round of the 2011 amateur draft by the Tampa Bay Rays. Over the next decade, he bounced between several organizations, including the Brewers, Mets, Mariners, and Diamondbacks, with three different teams claiming him off waivers during the 2021 season. After a final stint with the Chicago Cubs system in 2024, he voluntarily retired from professional baseball.

Original #4: 

This Nevada-born left-handed reliever spent parts of nine seasons in the majors with eight different teams, but some of his best work came in the Bronx before later returning to New York in Queens. Across two stints with the Mets, he appeared in 44 games, including a reliable 2020 season in which he posted a 3.96 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 25 innings.

Expanded:

Born in Las Vegas, this left-handed reliever began his professional career after being selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 11th round of the 2010 MLB draft. He was later involved in several notable roster moves, including a 2015 trade to the Yankees and a 2018 deadline deal to the Cardinals that sent Luke Voit to New York. Throughout his career, he has been the definition of a journeyman, signing with numerous clubs and enjoying multiple stints with both the Mets and the Yankees.

This left-handed reliever was originally drafted by the Braves in the 11th round of the 2010 MLB Draft before later joining the Yankees and Cardinals in a notable 2018 trade. He became a true journeyman later in his career, pitching for numerous organizations including the Mets, Pirates, Tigers, Reds, Rangers, Rockies, and Braves. His career path was marked by frequent free-agent signings and releases, with his final stint coming back in Atlanta in 2025.

Original #5:

This hard-throwing Panamanian right-hander earned the nicknames "Señor Smoke" and "El Gasolino" for his blazing fastball, eventually winning two World Series with different franchises. He debuted with the Mets in 1978 but struggled with control during his three seasons in New York before blossoming into an effective reliever elsewhere, highlighted by a standout 1987 championship season with the Twins.

Expanded:

This Panamanian right-handed pitcher spent 15 seasons in the major leagues, debuting with the New York Mets in 1978 and playing for seven teams. Known for his intimidating appearance and mid-90s fastball, he earned nicknames including “Pancho Villa,” “Señor Smoke,” and “El Gasolino.” He won World Series rings with the 1984 Detroit Tigers and 1987 Minnesota Twins, enjoying his greatest success as a key member of the latter team’s bullpen. During the 1987 postseason, he even appeared in a memorable music video called “The Berenguer Boogie.”

This well-traveled right-handed pitcher began his professional career with the Mets in the mid-1970s and eventually appeared for seven different MLB organizations. He earned NL Player of the Week honors in 1986 and had his best statistical season as a reliever in 1991, when he ranked among the NL leaders in saves, WPA, and RE24. His career included stops with teams such as the Royals, Tigers, Giants, Twins, and Braves, with his final MLB appearance coming in 1992.

[Cowtipper]

Well, here are the remaining answers:

Alaska - David Williams

Germany - Tobi Stoner

Montana - Rob johnson

Netherlands Antilles - Ralph Milliard

Nevada - Chasen Bradford, Jake Hager, Chasen Shreve

Nicaragua - Erasmo Ramirez

Panama - Manny Acosta, Jonathan Arauz, Juan Berenguer, Bruce Chen, Ariel Jurado, Ruben Tejada

South Dakota - John Strohmayer, Bob Rauch, Tom Hausman

U.S. Virgin Islands - Akeel Morris

Utah - Brandon Lyon

West Virginia - Jon Adkins, Kane Davis