As career milestones go, maybe the only thing comparable for Dillon Gee was making his major league debut against the Nationals four years ago.
On Monday it will be the Nationals again, this time with Gee as the Mets’ Opening Day starter. Gee said he is certainly more relaxed for this opportunity than he was on Sept. 7, 2010, when he beat the Nationals in his first career start, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning.
“I got called up and I wasn’t expecting to start, and when I landed that night, they were like, ‘Hey, you’re starting in two days.’ ” Gee said, referring to his major league debut. “That was sort of like thrown-into-the-fire type thing, and I almost didn’t have time to think about it. This is just something, luckily I think it’s easier to handle now that I’ve had experience in the big leagues.”
Manager Terry Collins officially named Gee as the team’s Opening Day starter with a week remaining in spring training, after it became evident Jon Niese wouldn’t be ready. The 27-year-old Gee earned the honor based on his strong finish to last season, which included a 2.71 ERA over the final four months.
If the Grapefruit League is any indication, Gee won’t have to worry about the kind of slow start that nearly cost him his spot in the rotation in 2013. In four appearances this spring, Gee posted a 1.08 ERA and walked only one batter in 16 ²/₃ innings.
Gee said changes he made to his workout routine over the winter have him in better pitching shape now than last year at this time. The key, Gee said, was curtailing his weight-lifting sessions. The right-hander suspects he may have been too “bulky” in 2013.
“A lot of pitchers pitch well when they are really strong and bulky or something,” Gee said. “We kind of thought it took me half a season almost to lose that and get to pitching shape. So we just thought why don’t we come in pitching shape?
“It’s going to take a full year — it’s tough to judge an offseason adjustment like that based on one spring training, so you see how the year goes and then you make your assessment after that. As of right now, I’m a lot better than I’ve ever felt this early.”
Gee’s entourage on Monday will include the scout who signed him, Ray Corbett. The Mets selected Gee in the 21st round of the 2007 draft. The entourage will also include Gee’s four-month-old son, Hudson.
“His first game will be my first Opening Day,” Gee said.