A baseball player endearing themselves to an entire fanbase is a difficult thing to do. However, few former New York Mets have managed to do so better than Paul Lo Duca.
While Lo Duca only spent two seasons in New York with the Mets (2006 and 2007), he made those two seasons count by making the 2006 NL All-Star team in a season where he hit .318 with 5 home runs, 49 RBIs, and a .783 OPS across 124 games. The Mets also won the NL East that year.
Lo Duca followed that up with a 2007 campaign in which he hit .272 with 9 home runs, 54 RBIs, and a .689 OPS. Regardless of his hitting, Lo Duca’s elite defense, ability to manage a pitching staff, and powerful locker room presence made him beloved among the Mets faithful.
After leaving New York that 2007 offseason, Lo Duca played one more MLB season before hanging up the cleats. After retiring, he worked as a horse racing analyst in 2009 before eventually leaving for the New York Racing Association, according to a February 19 article from the New York Post.
“I Needed to Go Through That”: Mets’ Former Top Prospect Plans a Comeback After Missing Years Of His Career
Remember the New York Mets’ Matt Allan? The former Mets player abruptly disappeared from Major League Baseball after he struggled with injuries to his elbow, forearm, and later, his hamstring, which frequently remind him of his difficult past. Now, Allan looks healthy for the first time since spring 2021, with speculations of a probable comeback.
It has been nearly six years since the Mets picked him up during the third round of the 2019 draft; however, soon after that, Matt Allan had to undergo two major surgeries for Tommy John. Doctors had to dissect his elbow to rearrange a ligament, and now, with four years passed, Allan is showing good signs of recovery, throwing fastballs at around 94 to 97 mph—a clear indication he’s eyeing pitching in the minor league games.
While the 23-year-old lost a major portion of his career, with five years gone since he last pitched in a game, Allan said, “I really believe that God knew I needed that time, even though it was a lot of time. I do believe that there’s a greater plan in place. I needed to go through that. I needed my character to be sculpted into the guy I am now, and that’s an ongoing process, that character development.”
Matt Allan, despite being out of the game for long, hasn’t just shown his commitment but also focused on trusting the Mets’ farm system and learning. Allan has instilled faith and strives to try his best to become the one he wishes to be. He has started working on his cutter, curveball, and more, hoping to make a great comeback after missing multiple years in his career. But that’s not all!
Is Matt Allan planning for a comeback to the Mets likely?
Well, it’s been quite some time since the New York Mets signed the top prospect Matt Allan for $2.5 million, which was four times his draft value. He had an impressive performance with the Mets, starring in six games where he went 1-0 with a 2.61 ERA and struck out 11 in 2019. However, that wasn’t too long! Allan’s Tommy John surgeries cost him multiple years; however, in January 2025, he joined other Mets’ prospects at their pitching development camp.
Not only did Allan start throwing balls at 94 to 97 mph during the bullpen, but he also showed good signs of swift movement and consistent throws. While the Mets do have pitchers like Sean Manaea, Allan’s fastballs and his hopes of long-term benefits of staying patient with the rehabilitation process create a probable chance of getting signed back by the Mets.
While it is too early to say anything about whether the Mets will finally acquire Matt Allan or not, all hopes are he makes a quick recovery to the mound. What do you think? Let us know in the comment section below.