Tom Brennan - EMERGING METS' MINORS ACES

Tom Brennan - EMERGING METS' MINORS ACES

Before my article really begins, let me say I HATE, TRULY HATE to see Jake pitch a gem and not get the win....and while Salas may have lost the game, Familia really gets the loss for not being there to help out an overtaxed bullpen.

Jordan Humphreys is off to a terrific season's start with Columbia in 2017, with 2 great starts.  But maybe it is just a fluke?  Some infants may ask, "Are you serious?" I'd say yes, little man, I'm dead serious, Humphreys is NO fluke.

He started to catch on fire late last year during his last 4 starts in Kingsport and Brooklyn.  Add those to this year's first two outings, and what sort of #'s has the righty been brandishing?

#'s good enough to make Thor and Jake say, "Wow!"  Not saying they did, but they should.  Why.

6 starts, 39 IP, 26 H, 4 walks, 53 Ks, ERA of 1.16. 

OK, let's all say it out loud together: WOW!

PJ Conlon keeps showing off his Irish side as he makes mince meat of the opposition.  The man with the best ERA in the entire minors last year, when he went 12-2, 1.65 in Columbia and St Lucie, has started out 2-0 in Binghamton, less than 2 full years since turning pro.  In his last start, the crafty lefty tossed 5 scoreless before surrendering a 2 run homer.  He also got to pitch in 4 spring games, and while he walked 6 and fanned none, he held his own with only slightly more than a full pro year under his belt, quite a challenge.

Colin Holderman struggled a bit during his pro pitching debut season in Kingsport in 2016 spanning less than 20 innings.  Did the struggles carry over to 2017 for the tall, hard throwing righty?  Nope!  His first start, 6 innings of 1 hit shutout ball, with no walks and 11 Ks.  Thor, Jake? "Wow!"


Merandy Gonzalez - any player whose name rhymes with Dandy is already ahead of the game.  The righty, who will toil all year as a 21 year old, had a fine 2016 in Brooklyn but walked a slightly high 3.5 per 9 IP.  His ERA after two Columbia starts is 0.00.  "WOW!"

Harol Gonzalez - he had a better 2016 season in Brooklyn than the Merandy of the same last name, but struggled in his first two Columbia starts of 2017.   I bet the just turned 22 year old straightens that out quick.

Justin Dunn - last year's first round pick did fine in Brooklyn but was quite shaky in his first start of 2017 for St Lucie, where the competition is far tougher.  His start Friday night was better but also so-so, leaving him at 9.1 IP, 11 hits, 7 walks, 4 runs, only TWO Ks.  He will pitch better in warmer weather (wait, he already is in Florida, scratch that idea).

Tom Szapucki - you never want to hear the words "shoulder impingement" for any pitcher, much less one with the jaw-dropping stats he had last year.  Let's hope it is not too serious.

Aces are meant to be tracked...so I will keep you posted.  Until then, Happy Easter and Pesach, people.