Matt Seelinger, a native of Westbury, Long Island, was called up by the New York Mets on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone in his professional baseball career. The 31-year-old right-hander was acquired from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for cash considerations and is expected to make his major league relief debut shortly after the promotion.

Seelinger has spent the bulk of his career in the minor leagues, with previous stops in the Pittsburgh Pirates, Tampa Bay Rays, San Francisco Giants, and Philadelphia Phillies organizations. This season, he pitched 39 1/3 innings for the Tigers’ Triple-A affiliate, the Toledo Mud Hens, where he posted a 3.89 earned run average, striking out 49 batters while issuing 19 walks.

Prior to joining the Tigers system, Seelinger returned to his Long Island roots in 2024, appearing in 21 games for the independent Long Island Ducks. Since then, he also pitched in 31 games split between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo, steadily working toward an opportunity in the majors.

Speaking before Tuesday’s game, Seelinger reflected on the significance of making his major league debut close to home. “It’s a whirlwind, it’s a dream scenario for me,” he said. “I grew up 20 minutes from here, so I used to come to games all the time as a kid.” He recalled attending numerous events at the Mets’ home stadium, including baseball games, the New York Rangers Winter Classic, and the Home Run Derby, underlining the personal importance of playing professionally in front of a familiar crowd.

Although Seelinger grew up a fan of the New York Yankees, he is well-versed in Mets history. He mentioned having experienced moments of heartbreak and triumph as a Mets observer, citing the 2006 and 2015 seasons, along with memorable plays like Pete Alonso’s home runs and Francisco Lindor’s grand slam.

One notable highlight earlier this year came when Seelinger struck out Juan Soto swinging during a 2026 World Baseball Classic exhibition game. Now, both players are teammates on the Mets, with Seelinger actively pursuing his goal of establishing himself in the major leagues.

As Seelinger prepares for his anticipated debut, many local baseball fans, especially those from Long Island, are expected to be in attendance to support the hometown player.