According to MLB.com, the New York Mets are adding a previous MLB Pipeline Pitcher of the Year on a minor-league contract. As a result of the agreement, Jon Duplantier will receive an invitation to minor league camp.
Out of Rice, Duplantier was the third round selection of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2016. Before being drafted, the right-hander won Conference USA Pitcher of the Year. He made his major league debut in 2017 with a stellar campaign in which he went 12-3 with a 1.39 ERA in 25 games with Kane County and Visalia. He was later voted MLB Pipeline’s Pitcher of the Year and also appeared in the All-Star Futures game. In 2019, he was called up to the Major Leagues by Arizona, where he appeared in 15 games and recorded a 1-1 record with a 4.42 ERA. Every nine innings, he struck out 8.3 batters but walked
He was not allowed to play in 2020 because of the minor-league baseball shutdown. In 2021, he was briefly called up by the Diamondbacks and managed to strike out 12 batters in 13 innings, but his ERA was 13.15 before he was dropped.
He was placed on the injured list due to a lat injury that ended his season. After being re-signed by Arizona and released on unconditional waivers, he chose to become a free agent. From there, he was signed by the San Francisco Giants in December 2021, but the Los Angeles Dodgers selected him in the Rule 5 Draft. He pitched for the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City before signing with Philadelphia as a free agent following the season.
