Dicky Lovelady signs with NY Mets: What to know about the pitcher with an unusual name
New York signed free-agent left-handed relief pitcher Richard Lovelady on Monday.
The journeyman has requested to be called by his nickname "Dicky" with fans, teammates and staffers. For official records, however, he'll still be listed as Richard Lovelady.
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The 29-year-old is shooting straight up to the big leagues after opting out of his minor league contract with the Triple-A St. Paul Saints.
Lovelady is the latest addition to a Mets roster that has struggled with stamina this season. Over the course of six major league seasons, Lovelady has pitched for five teams − the Kansas City Royals, Oakland A's, Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays, and Toronto Blue Jays. His career has had ups and downs, with a 5.26 ERA in 101 innings, with a 5-13 record and 93 strikeouts.
This season, Lovelady struggled to get his stats up, opening the year with the Blue Jays and being whacked for a 21.60 ERA in two appearances. But the majors couldn't abstain from Lovelady for long. After rejecting an assignment to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, he signed a new minor league deal with the Minnesota Twins. Lovelady found success with the St. Paul Saints, posting a 1.31 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 19 appearances.
The last two weeks have been hard on the Mets. New York has lost eight of its last nine games and the bullpen continues to be a source of concern.
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Lovelady's debut in New York coincides with Women's Night at Citi Field on Monday. Oh, yes, it might be Lovelady's night. Oh, what a night.
New York (46-32) hosts the Atlanta Braves (35-41) at 7:10 p.m.
Richard Lovelady stats
2019 (Kansas City): 25 games; 0-3 record; 7.65 ERA; 1.90 WHIP; 20.0 IP; 17 K; 8 BB
2020 (Kansas City): 1 game; 0-0 record; 9.00 ERA; 2.00 WHIP; 1.0 IP; 0 K; 1 BB
2021 (Kansas City): 20 games; 2-0 record; 3.48 ERA; 1.06 WHIP; 20.2 IP; 23 K; 6 BB; 1 save
2023 (Oakland): 27 games; 0-3 record; 4.63 ERA; 1.07 WHIP; 23.1 IP; 24 K; 10 BB
2024 (Chicago): 7 games; 0-1 record; 7.94 ERA; 1.94 WHIP; 5.2 IP; 6K; 2 BB
2024 (Tampa Bay): 28 games; 3-5 record; 3.77 ERA; 1.19 WHIP; 28.2 IP; 20 K; 9 BB; 2 saves
2024 (Total): 35 games; 3-6 record; 4.46 ERA; 1.31 WHIP; 34.1 IP; 26K; 11 BB; 2 saves
2025 (Toronto): 2 games; 0-1 record; 21.60 ERA; 2.40 WHIP; 1.2 IP; 3K; 2 BB; 0 saves
Career total: 110 games; 5-13 record; 5.26 ERA; 1.35 WHIP; 101.0 IP; 93K; 38 BB; 3 saves
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NY Mets sign pitcher who will know be known as Dicky Lovelady
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