A promising flamethrower whose career was cut short by injury, Berenyi came up to the Reds at the end of 1980 after leading the American Association in both strikeouts and walks. In strike-shortened 1981, he led the NL with 77 walks. Lack of control combined with the Reds’ weak offense in 1982 (last in the NL in runs scored) resulted in a league-leading 18 losses despite a 3.36 ERA.
The Mets, contending for the pennant in 1984, traded Jay Tibbs, Eddie Williams, and pitcher Matt Bullinger to acquire Berenyi that June. He was 9-6 the rest of the way with a 3.76 ERA, and got off to an even better start in 1985. However, on April 24 he tore his rotator cuff while trying to pitch after his arm had tightened up during a rain delay.
Berenyi revealed later that his shoulder had hurt most of his career, but he’d gotten used to it; the trouble had first cropped up in 1978. Out for the rest of the year, he was unable to come back in 1986, contributing only two wins in the Mets’ World Championship season. His uncle was former Browns’ ace Ned Garver.
