The Keepers - #29 - RHSP Luis Mateo

29.              Luis Mateo  RHP

5-12-11: - The Mets announced that they have signed another top international prospect. 21-year old Luis Mateo signed for a $150,000 bonus. The 6-3, 175 pound RHP originally signed ($625K) with the Giants, but the contract voided when bone chips were found in his right elbow. Then the Padres agreed to sign him ($300k), until reports came out that his reported age was wrong. The MLB finally just suspended the dude for a year so he could figure out, err… when he was born. 3.17.92 became 3.22.90 and here comes the Mets.  Mateo reportedly thows in the 93-96 range, plus a “decent” slider.

8-3-11: - So far, Mateo is everything as advertised. He has basically dominated the DSL with stats of: 5-1, 1.46, 0.65, 49.1-IP, 61-K, and only 3-BB.

Luis Mateo: - Stock Up – 8-3-11 – Mateo was a big time international signee last May and the Mets gave him a $150,000 bonus. I haven’t followed the DSL league much this season because just about everything is premature at that level. I did peek in at Mateo and the stats look fantastic: 5-1, 1.46, 0.65, 49.1-IP, 61-K, and only 3-BB. This is a first year DSL player that is 21, so it’s nice to see someone finish school for a change and tell the truth about their age.

8-9-11 from Paul DePodesta – “There’s another pitcher named Luis Mateo, who is also a little older. He’s 21. He has really good power stuff. He’s actually still in the Dominican. All those guys were signed this year.”

8-14-11: - Stock Up – SP Luis Mateo – prospect pitcher Luis Mateo started again today and turned in a good outing: 6.0-IP, 2-ER, 1-BB, 7-K. His seasonal ERA now stands at 2.17 and he has 72 strikeouts in 58.0 innings pitched, with only five walks. Outstanding.

8-19-11: - Stock Up – SP Luis Mateo – Mateo continues to dominate the DSL league. The 6-3 right pitched five more scoreless innings, striking out eight. He’s now: 6-1, 2.00, 13-starts, 63.0-IP, 80-K, 5-BB.

8-23-11: - #23: -    SP Luis Mateo – Another new name to remember. The Mets signed Mateo in the off-season after a bout with bone chips and age amnesia. Now 21-years old instead of 19, he’s dominating a level he should have been far past: He’s sitting at 95 this year and he should jump a couple of levels next year as a 22-yr. old. See, that’s how it works, Luis. You’re a certain age one year and then a year later, you add one more. I’ve got him going to Brooklyn.

8-23-11: - DSL 2011 End of Season Wrap-Up - http://www.nyfuturestars.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=35808&sid=e8719b8eddffd9bc033d0ab708d8aff5   - Luis Mateo, 21, SP - The big international FA came to the DSL Mets this year and started 13 games. He went 6-1, and in 63 IP hes struck out 80 and walked just 5.

9-25-11: - Luis Mateo – The 21-yr. old signed with the Mets in March after originally signing with the Giants and Padres. Lots of drama (undisclosed injury, wrong age), but the bottom line is the fact he can damn well pitch. He’s sitting at 95 and his DSL stats this year were: 13-G, 6-1, 63-IP, 80-K, 5-BB. He will definitely be stateside come the spring.

1-23-12 - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/1/23/2693134/2012-amazin-avenue-top-50-mets-prospects    #43) RHP Luis Mateo - Mateo was originally signed by the Giants but failed his physical. He rehabbed, then signed with San Diego...but that also fell through when MLB suspended him for lying about his age. Regardless, the Mets stayed on him and ended up paying only $150k for a kid who has a seriously big arm. Though he's 21 -- not 19 -- he still tops out at 97mph with a sharp slider and gets great downward action thanks to a long, athletic 6'3" frame. And look at those results: Five walks in 63 innings. Seriously? And 80 K's? That's nuts from a kid with his stuff making his pro debut. Yes he may have been a little old for the DSL, but with a top-flight pedigree and the stuff to match there's reason to be excited about a potential steal here. Get ready to hear this name a lot more this year, he could fly up this list in 2012. Why He's Here: Fellow Dominican righty Rafael Montero may have gotten more ink this season -- jumping all the way up to Brooklyn during their playoff run and earning the final spot in BA's top 20 in the GCL. But to me, Mateo's extended -- and incredible -- performance in the DSL wasn't far behind Montero's excellent 2011. Add in a couple more ticks on the fastball, a better pitcher's build and a better pedigree and Brooklyn or not, I'm more taken with Mateo going forward. Tempting to rank both guys higher on this list based on some outstanding numbers but I'm waiting for results against age-appropriate competition before I really get excited.