Justin Hagenman walked to the mound in Wednesday’s second inning and began throwing his warmup pitches.
And then it hit him.
He was a big leaguer.
“I was like, ‘All right, this is real,’ ” the Mets right-hander said after his team’s 4-3 loss to the Twins in 10 innings at Target Field. “And then you step on the mound for the first pitch, and here we go.”
After seven minor league seasons, the 27-year-old Hagenman — whom the Mets signed to a major league contract in the offseason — got his opportunity, and he didn’t disappoint.
Selected from Triple-A Syracuse as the sixth “starter” with Griffin Canning sick, Hagenman pitched 3 ¹/₃ innings behind opener Huascar Brazobán and allowed one earned run on three hits with four strikeouts.
“He gave us what we were asking,” manager Carlos Mendoza said.
It was likely just a cameo for Hagenman, who will likely return to Syracuse on Thursday when the Mets plan to place Jose Siri on the injured list with a fractured left tibia.
That transaction will allow the team to recall reliever Max Kranick as the corresponding roster move without waiting 15 days.
Kranick was optioned to Syracuse to create roster space for Hagenman.
Once Hagenman is optioned, the Mets can select a player from Syracuse (possibly José Azócar) to give the team additional outfield depth.
Canning is scheduled to pitch Thursday’s series opener against the Cardinals at Citi Field, with David Peterson, Kodai Senga and Clay Holmes aligned for the ensuing three games.
The insertion of the sixth starter is providing extra rest for Senga in particular in this stretch of 13 straight days with a game.
Hagenman understands the roster situation but also expects further opportunities in the major leagues.
“This is where you want to be, so no matter what happens, it’s: How can we get back here?” Hagenman said. “How can we stay here for as long as we can and pitch as many games here with these guys as we possibly can?
“That’s the best feeling in the world being out there, so it’s whatever we can do and now that I realize it’s all that it was and better.”
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