jenrry-mejia.JPG

Jenrry Mejia will make his 2013 debut Friday against the Nationals.

(Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports)

NEW YORK – Jenrry Mejia will make his season debut Friday when he pitches the first game of the Mets’ doubleheader Friday against the Nationals, manager Terry Collins announced today.

The Mets needed a starter to make the spot start because of the doubleheader and Mejia will join the team as the 26th man. Matt Harvey will pitch the nightcap.

Asked why Mejia was the choice, Collins deadpanned: “Because Sandy said he’s the choice.”

Other options included Rafael Montero and Chris Schwinden, but Mejia is already on the 40-man roster so his promotion will not require any additional transactions unlike Montero and Schwinden.

The organization briefly considered pushing Zack Wheeler back from Thursday to Friday because of a blister that was a problem in his last start Saturday against the Phillies, but Collins said it was no longer an issue.

Mejia has spent much of the season on the disabled list with elbow inflammation before beginning his rehabilitation. He allowed one run over 11 innings in two starts for Double-A Binghamton. It will be his first start in the majors since Sept. 30 last year when he allowed four runs on six hits over five innings in a loss to the Braves.

“He’s throwing great. He struck out eight the other night,” Collins said. “(He’s) ready to pitch. (But it’s a) a long way from Binghamton to D.C.”

Three years ago Mejia was regarded as highly as Harvey and Zack Wheeler have been; the Mets’ top pitching prospect with high hopes. He was 20 at the time and made the major league roster out of spring training as a reliever.

But by the next April he was tore the medial collateral ligament and needed Tommy John surgery. He didn’t return to the majors until last season, when he made three starts and appeared in two other games out of the bullpen. He compiled a 5.63 earned-run average over 16 innings.

Mejia is only 23, younger than Harvey and months older than Wheeler.

“He is still young,” Collins said. “What he’s hearing today about Wheeler, about Harvey -- it was all about Jenrry Mejia three years ago. In the same vain. The sky’s the limit. Plus stuff. Power arm.

“All those things and he’s still only 23 years old so ‘Don’t write yourself off because you’ve had some arm issues. Get yourself ready, work on your command, work on your secondary pitches and when you get your chance, which is going to be Friday, do something with it. Go up here and show us you belong here and that you should stay here.’”