Penn State's Justin Hagenman is back in the big leagues — and the Mets needed him.
The right-hander was reinstated from the 60-day IL ahead of New York's September 2 matchup against the AL East-leading Rays, filling the last open spot on the Mets' 40-man roster. Dylan Ross was optioned to Triple-A to clear the way. The move was part of a broader September roster expansion, with the Mets also recalling outfielder Nick Morabito as the club added depth for the final push of the 2026 season.
Hagenman's return was framed as a rotation slot — specifically to allow extra rest for young starter Christian Scott — and he delivered when it counted. Against Tampa Bay on September 2, the Penn State product worked three innings, surrendered just one earned run, and struck out two, finishing with a 3.00 ERA on the night. The Mets' bullpen held the lead from there, and New York secured a road series win over one of the toughest teams in the American League.
Three days later, Hagenman saw action again against the Giants on September 5, this time logging one inning and allowing one earned run, pushing his ERA to 4.50 across the two appearances. The stat line was modest, but the bigger story is availability: a pitcher returning from a "unique" injury — as Hagenman himself described it — and contributing in two consecutive series during the most pressure-packed stretch of the season is exactly the kind of depth move that can define a playoff race.
The Mets entered this stretch with designs on October baseball, and a healthy Hagenman gives manager Carlos Mendoza a flexible arm who can eat innings either in the rotation or out of the 'pen. For a pitching staff managing workloads in September, that versatility matters.
No other Penn State alumni generated notable activity across MLB during the week. Jack Anderson (Red Sox), Jay Harry (Blue Jays), Paxton Kling (Rangers), Ryan Weingartner (Cardinals), Lonnie White Jr. (Pirates), and Matthew Wood (Brewers) did not surface in notable transactions or standout performances during the August 30–September 5 window.
The spotlight, for now, belongs to Hagenman — a Nittany Lion doing his part in a pennant race.
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