Mets Skipper Sends Warning To Own Team After Bold Take on White Sox’s 25YO Pitcher

It started as just another media scrum — the usual pregame chatter, a few injury updates, a lineup note or two. But when reporters brought up the opposing starter, the tone shifted. The Mets’ skipper, Carlos Mendoza, didn’t hold back on sharing his thoughts about the White Sox’s 25-year-old arm – Shane Smith.

Discussing the change-up and how effective Smith can be in the game, Mendoza replied with a nod, “He’s a good arm.” Then, it was his comment on the fastball that stood out. “His fastball is up to 96, but the change looks real.” And then things got a little trickier when Mendoza identified the warning from Smith.

“You know he has got a lot of different pitches. He’s got the sliders. He’s got the sinker. So there are a lot of different ways for the lefties, alright, he got the weapons, you know! We got to be ready to go today.”

That wasn’t just praise — it was a subtle signal. A message not just about the pitcher, but directed squarely at his own clubhouse.

Be ready — or get embarrassed. Because what they saw wasn’t a one-off. 

And talking about Shane Smith, he didn’t just flash talent; he showed poise, pace, and power, all wrapped into one. And Mendoza, who rarely overhypes opponents, saw the writing on the wall. When a rookie from the Rule 5 Draft — not a first-round phenom — starts carving through veteran hitters with a 2.37 ERA over 10 starts, it forces reflection.

The takeaway was clear: The Mets can’t afford to sleep on anyone, especially not an underdog making a name in real time. Wake up, or fall behind.

Stay tuned here to unfold more…

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