MMs Top 25: #16 RHSP Cory Mazzoni

#16 RHP Cory Mazzoni (LR: #10)

Bats: R Throws: R
Height: 6' 1" Weight: 200 lb

Age: 25
Acquired: 2011 Rule IV draft, 2nd round, North Carolina State University

2014: (R/A+/AA/AAA) 7-2, 4.68 ERA, 77.0 IP, 8.8 K/9, 2.3 BB/9, 1.299 WHIP
2013: (AA)                 5-3, 4.36 ERA, 66.0 IP, 10.1 K/9, 2.6 BB/9, 1.348 WHIP
2012: (A+/AA)          10-6, 3.93 ERA, 144.1 IP, 6.5 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, 1.316 WHIP
2011: (SS-A/A+)        2-1, 1.38 ERA, 13.0 IP, 12.5 K/9, 2.1 BB/9, 1.154 WHIP

     Boy oh boy.....I don't know what to think about Mazzoni anymore. I have personally seen Mazzoni in person in Binghamton and let me tell you.....when Mazzoni is healthy, he flashes excellent stuff. At times he can dominate and I believe he is advanced enough that he could contribute at the MLB level right now. Other times though, it just unravels for him on the mound. When things are not going right, even when he makes good pitches, they fly off the bat left and right. Across a full seaon, the results are just not there and I'm not sure why. 

     Well....actually I kind do know...The Mets front office loves Mazzoni's secondary pitches. His slider, while inconsistent at times, has a sharp hard 2 plane break that gets right handed hitters fishing pretty consistently. The pitch comes in pretty hot too between 84-86 mph. He also has a very unique change-up/split finger fastball blend pitch that can be considered a rarely seen "Fosh Ball." The most recent pitchers I can think who have used the pitch are Trevor Hoffman, Tom Gordon, and Jeff Suppan. It has some heavy downward break like a change-up but comes in pretty hot like a splitter at around 81-83 mph. Despite being a righty, Mazzoni has eaten left handed hitters alive with this pitch, but again, just like his slider, it can be inconsistent at times and on bad nights it'll slip and just float in. 

     Because of the two strong secondary pitches, The Mets are convinced that Mazzoni can combine them with his mid 90's fastball and be a full-time starter with a pretty high ceiling. I too, have been holding out hope but that's just not the case. Mazzoni suffers from what I like to call "Bobby Parnell syndrome." Mazzoni can bring his fastball anywhere from 92 to a 97 mph max, but, when he does crank that velocity up the pitch becomes straight as an arrow. When Mazzoni keeps it in the 92-93 range, it has enough movement to get by 1 or 2 times through the order. That 3rd time through though, when your starting to get tired and need to reach back for a little extra, it begins to flatten out again at the lower velocities too.

     I truly believe that the Mets need to make him switch full time to a reliever in order to utilize that premium end of his velocity later in games. He's got the stuff to be successful he just needs the opportunity. In case of injury, Mazzoni will probably be the 1st guy called up to fill a spot in the bullpen. With weapons that can get both lefties and righties out, he still has the ceiling to be a 8th inning RP, but, without that fastball movement I can't see him sticking as a SP anymore. A Flex RP (like Carlos Torres) could be a good fit for him too.

Ceiling: MLB High Leverage RP (Bobby Parnell)

Floor: MLB Flex RP

Anticipated Assignment: (AAA) Las Vegas Bullpen.