:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72228732/1250876911.0.jpg "Justin Verlander latest: Watch Mets SP complete his first Minor League rehab start")
Ever since he sent shockwaves around the baseball world by signing a two-year, $86.67 million deal with the New York Mets last winter, the team's fans have been dying to see Justin Verlander in orange and blue. That was put on hold almost immediately this spring after the former MVP was shut down with muscle strain in his shoulder, just the latest in a years-long line of extremely ill-timed injuries to befall Mets pitchers. Instead of having the two-time Cy Young winner make them forget all about Jacob deGrom, Queens has been stuck watching Jose Butto, Joey Lucchesi and David Peterson labor through the first month of the 2023 season.
But Verlander has been recovering ahead of schedule, and on Friday both he and Mets fans finally got their wish – well, sort of – when the righty took the mound for his first Minor League rehab start with Double-A Binghamton.
.@JustinVerlander spotted in Binghamton. pic.twitter.com/gqlapMrkPP
– Mets Player Development (@MetsPlayerDev) April 28, 2023