NEW YORK - Aaron Harang's long and winding career made a pit stop in Flushing in September 2013. The 6-foot-7 righthander spent that season's final few weeks starting for the New York Mets. The next month he was granted free agency.
Considering the 362 starts and 1,780 strikeouts on his resumé, 23 innings of a third-place season in New York should serve as little more than a footnote to Harang's established major-league career. But even now, with the 37-year-old off to an incredible start to the season for the Phillies, he can thank the Mets - one coach in particular - for assisting his career renaissance.