The Keepers - #56 - RP Josh Stinson

56. Josh Stinson – RP – 22/yrs.

Stinson was drafted in the 37th round of the 2006 draft by the Mets straight out of Northwood High School, in Louisiana. Stinson was projected as early round talent, but he had a scholarship offer from Northwestern State and fell to the late rounds. He also had a 2.30 ERA and has hit 94 on the gun.
Baseball America said, at the time of his selection: “Josh Stinson is a 6-foot-4, 190-pounder with a 90-91 mph fastball. His velocity and secondary pitches could improve if he cleans up his mechanics and stops falling away from the plate.”

Stinson signed with the Mets in June 2006 and was assigned to the GCL team. He also won the 2006 Sterling Award as the best player for the 2006 Gulf Coast Mets, posting a 1.79 ERA between GCL and H-Town.

Baseball America says that the Mets may have ‘gotten a steal” with Stinson in the 37th round. They also tagged him as the best late-round Mets draft pick in 2006. Stinson throws primarily 2-seam FBs which ranges from 85 mph to 89 mph. Normally, there is a 3-4 mph differential between a 4-seam FB and a 2-seamer which would project to 92-93 mph for the 4-seamer. A number of pitchers have had a 4-6 mph differential including a young Greg Maddux who abandoned his 4-seamer. GM's 2-seamer topped off at 89 mph, but his 4-seamer topped off at 94-95 mph.

John Sickles has Stinson as the 11th top 2007 Mets prospect, with a C+ rating, and the comment: “interesting arm but another guy who will need time.” Stinson’s combined 2006 stats for the GCL Mets and Hagerstown are 12 games, 7 starts, 1-3, 1.80, and 1.17.

Stinson will have no trouble forgetting 2007, where he pitched for Savannah (3-11, 4.86, 1.50 in 26 games, 21 starts).

In 2008, ‘Stinny’ pitched a combined 3-8, 3.96 for Savannah and St. Lucie.

In 2009, Stinson was sent back to Savannah to start the season and I can personally vouch for the fact that didn’t make him very happy, but it gave him a chance to establish a successful routine as a reliever. He wound up doing well there (2-2, 3.61, in 25 games), and then excelled at St. Lucie 3-1, 1.98, in 25 appearances, to establish himself as one of the Mets best relievers in the system.

Stinson’s combined 2009 stats were: 5-3, 2.86, in 50 appearances, one start, 84-K in 78.2-IP.

Forecast: Nothing but blue sky. Stinson seems to have found his calling and will head up the Binghamton bullpen in the spring. He’s pitching winter ball now and wil pitch next year at 22. Right now, if he continues dominating as a reliever, he projects out as a 2011 Queens’ penman.