Former Mets relief pitcher Pedro Feliciano, who spent his entire nine-year major league career with the Amazin’s, was found dead in his sleep Monday at the age of 45.
The lefty Feliciano, who had a rare heart condition, was a native of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. Drafted by Los Angeles in 1995, Feliciano played in the minor leagues for the Dodgers, Reds and Yankees, in addition to a stint in Japan, before landing with the Mets for a third time in 2006.
“The Mets are so saddened to hear of the loss to their family today. Pedro Feliciano will be remembered as a beloved member of the Mets organization for his impact as a great teammate as well as his reputation as one of the most competitive, durable and reliable relievers during his time in Queens,” the team said in a statement.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Feliciano family. Rest in peace, Pedro.”
When Feliciano first came up, he was throwing overhand, and struggling to get lefty hitters out. Former Mets pitching coach Rick Peterson remembered a conversation with team personnel about sending Feliciano down to Triple-A and making him a starter.
“We’re building a team to compete in October, in the postseason, right?” Peterson recalled asking then-general manager Jim Duquette. When Duquette responded in the affirmative, Peterson asked the room to close their eyes and picture what game Feliciano would start in October.
That put an end to that plan.
Instead, Peterson suggested dropping Feliciano’s arm slot so he would be throwing sidearm, as a way to attack left-handed hitters. After that meeting, Peterson brought the possibility up to Feliciano, who was open to it. They decided to start the process right away, Feliciano throwing a bullpen session before going down to Triple-A.
“And he got it like that,” Peterson said. “He got it immediately. … He’s giddy. He goes, ‘I’ve never thrown a ball that moved like that.’ ”
“Would you do it for a million bucks a year?” Peterson asked him.
Soon, Feliciano would be making more.
From 2006 on, he became a key lefty specialist for the team, leading the majors in games pitched in 2008 with 86. He ranks second in franchise history in games pitched with 459, behind John Franco.
“He wanted to be available every single day,” Peterson said. “You had to tell him he had the day off.”
Added former closer Billy Wagner: “I can’t say enough positive things about him. Just always ready to play. A super teammate. Great competitor.”
Former Mets general manager Omar Minaya remembered Feliciano as a versatile reliever who performed above expectations.
“Pedro could start. Pedro could give you two innings, Pedro could give you three innings. Pedro could come in and get you a lefty out,” Minaya told The Post. “He was a little bit, almost ahead of his time as far as his abilities that probably would have been of more value the way the game is today than it was back then.”
Minaya described Feliciano as easygoing — a clubhouse jokester. That easygoing description was backed by others.
“He was very suave,” Wagner said. “Very relaxing. Just, never seemed in panic, upset or wired.”
Wagner said Feliciano was a “lifeline” to the Mets’ bullpen, frequently pitching in important spots. Peterson recalled one, late in September in Philadelphia. The Mets were up a run with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth. Chase Utley was at the plate.
Feliciano opened with a slider off the plate and Utley failed to check his swing. Then a sinker that Utley hit off his ankle, all to set up a front-door slider on 0-and-2.
“It looks like it’s going to hit him in the kneecap after the two-seamer he just threw there,” Peterson said. “And Chase Utley jumps back. It’s got about 3 inches of the inside corner, called strike three.
“And [Feliciano] comes back and goes, ‘Is that what you’re talking about? Is that what you’re talking about?’ I said, ‘Yeah, that’s what we’re talking about.’ ”
Though Feliciano signed with the Yankees ahead of the 2011 season, shoulder injuries ended his year before it began. He also failed to play for the Yankees in 2012, then re-signed with the Mets in 2013 for what would ultimately be his last season in the majors.
The cause of death was not immediately known. Feliciano was jet skiing with his family on Sunday, according to ESPN’s Eduardo Perez.
In 2013, Feliciano said he had a small “hole” in the exterior of his heart, but he was told the situation was not life-threatening.
The news of his death was confirmed by Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Dia.
