Aaron Harang pitched for the Mets in 2013. Yes, he really did.
As discussed previously, recalling players who are classified as "forgotten Mets" is a fun, nostalgic exercise that engenders memories specific to a certain period of time in Mets history. These players often aren't big names, are sometimes above-average, and have made themselves known to the baseball world with different teams. In 2013, this was the case with Aaron Harang.
Harang had pitched in ten seasons with four different teams before his short stint with the Mets. He's most known for his five-year stretch as a mainstay in the Cincinnati Reds' rotation, from 2004 to 2010. The San Diego State University product signed a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers before the 2012 season, after a somewhat successful one-off with the San Diego Padres. In April of 2013, he was traded to the Colorado Rockies by the Dodgers. Five days later, the Seattle Mariners acquired him from the Rockies. The right-hander made 22 starts with the Mariners to the tune of a 5.76 ERA. He was designated for assignment on August 26, and released four days later.
The Mets, at the time, were in need of a filler in the rotation. On September 2, the Mets inked Harang to a minor league contract and sent him to Triple-A Las Vegas. A week later, he was called up to the big club.
Harang's debut with the Mets was unexpectedly auspicious–he gave up three runs in six innings and struck out ten in a loss against the Washington Nationals. He followed his first start up with a five-inning, eight strikeout performance against the San Francisco Giants.
His third start came in the city he called home for eight seasons. In Cincinnati, he gave up two runs over six innings with six walks in a game the Mets lost in walk-off fashion. On the second to last day of the 2013 season, he ended his Mets career with six strong innings of one-run ball against the Milwaukee Brewers.
His final numbers in four starts with the Mets: 23 IP, 26 strikeouts, and 12 walks with a 3.52 ERA and 5.31 FIP.
He left as quickly as he arrived. The Mets let him go after the 2013 season. He used this mediocre, but not completely terrible performance as a chance to prove his worth to other major league teams. This worked, apparently, as he was signed for one year by the Atlanta Braves prior to the 2014 season. He pitched well for the them, especially against the Mets, evidenced by his 0.90 ERA against them in three starts. His most notable performance came on April 18 in a performance in which he held the Mets hitless for seven innings.
He recently signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, assuring his presence in the NL East for at least another year. He is bound to face the Mets at least once this year, and when he does, there may be some reminder of his short stint in Queens. It'd be hard to remember otherwise, for he is a forgotten Met.