Griffin Canning: Mets Pitcher (2025)
In 2014 he was drafted by the Colorado Rockies but did not sign & attended UCLA. With the UCLA Bruins he became their top pitcher by his sophomore year. In 2017 he was signed by the Los Angeles Angels.
MLB Debut: Canning was brought up on April 30th, making a start against the Blue Jays, pitching five innings allowing three earned runs. On May 7th, he won his first career game beating the Tigers itching into the 6th inning allowing two runs. & striking out seven.
In his first five starts he struck out five or more batters each time, becoming one of four AL pitchers to ever do so. Canning set an Angels franchise record posting 77 strikeouts thru his first 14 career games.
In August he was shut down for the rest of the year after ongoing issues with elbow inflammation.
In 2023 he returned to action, on April 25th he earned his first victory in almost two years beating the A's in Anaheim. From May 23rd to June 24th, he was 4-0 with 37 strike outs in 36 innings, posting a 2.25 ERA. He was 6-2 thru the end of June, then struggled thru nagging injuries.
From August 19th thru the end of the season, he was 1-4, losing his last four decisions. In those seven starts he gave up two runs or less in five of them. He ended the year 11-13 with 139 strike outs in 127 innings pitched with a 4.32 ERA.
In 2024 Griffin lost his first three decisions. On April 23rd he beat the Orioles for his first win of the season. From May 5th to July 5th, he lost six of seven decisions including a stretch of four straight.
On the season he gave up the most earned runs in the AL (99) having six starts where he gave up five runs or more. He finished the year at 6-13 with a 5.19 ERA.
On October 31st, 2024, he was traded to the Braves for Jorge Soler but was granted free agency the next month. That December he was signed by the New York Mets.
Quotes- Griffin Canning: "It was kind of like, hey these are your best pitches, why not lean on them a bit more".
Griffin had a good Spring, then with injuries to Sean Manaea & Frankie Montas he got a spot in the Mets rotation right away.
The Astros Spencer Arrighetti held the Mets to a run & the bullpen shut them out the rest of the way, giving Canning the loss.
On April 5th, he got the start on a cold night at Citi Field, holding the Blue Jays down to a run in four innings of work. Canning struck out six batters but did issue three walks, taking no decision in the Mets win.
Although he gave up four runs, he pitched into the 6th inning striking out three & walking three, but the Mets put up seven runs led by Pete Alonso's fourth HR of the season helping in the win.
In his next start he was scratched due to illness but returned the next day & put in a six inning one run performance where he struck out eight batters earning his second win.
Canning struck out five & walked one. On April 29th in D.C. he shut out the Nat's for five innings fanning another five batters earning his 4th win of the season.
On May 5th in Arizona, Canning gave up a leadoff HR to Corbin Carroll, but he then settled in retiring nine of the next ten batters & wouldn't allow another run over six innings. He went on to earn his fifth straight victory to get to 5-1 with one of the league's best ERA's at 2.50.
Last season his fifth win did not come until early September. The turnaround has been a pleasant surprise for the Mets staff with much of that success going toward pitching coach Jeremy Hefner. Canning has said that the book "the Power of Now" has also helped him with his successes.
JRH: Before every start he carves the initials JRH in back of the mound in honor of his godmother's grandson who died of a blood clot in his brain at ten years old.
Hobbies: Off the field Canning enjoys surfing, hiking & photography.