8/26/18

Tony Plate - Justin Dunn


On this past Saturday evening pitcher Justin Dunn who was chosen by the New York Mets with the 19th overall pick out of Boston College in the first round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft held the Reading Fightin Phil’s to two hits and one run through seven innings as the Binghamton Rumble Ponies defeated Reading 4-2 on Amed Rosario Bobblehead Day. The attendance was not that good. There were plenty of empty seats as the season winds down. The kids that attended were thrilled to receive their bobblehead toy as they cheered for every Rumble Ponies hit. The big blow of the game came from Binghamton first baseman Joey Thermostatic who blasted a three-run homer over the right field wall to put Binghamton ahead 3-0. Ryder Ryan pitched in the eighth inning and Joshua Torres came on in the ninth and recorded his fifth save of the season. Malquin Canelo hit a homerun for the Phils. Ranfi Casimiro who looked shaky at the beginning and then settled down a little bit later went six innings and took the loss.  

 Dunn now (6-4) who was New York's third best prospect going into the 2018 season put on an impressive performance and struck out seven and walked four. He kept Reading off balance with his fastball and curveball. He hit the corners throughout the game. He showed his athletic ability by making a good defensive play in the field. He swung the bat well and also showed good speed by running down the first base line as well. Dunn got off to a slow start during the beginning of his minor league career, however he has showed some improvement.

As the season winds down for the Rumble Ponies and the Major Leagues look to expand the rosters on September 1st the parent Mets will be looking to see who they will call up from the Minor Leagues as they want to evaluate players for the 2019 season. Dunn will most likely be back with the Rumble Ponies next year. The Mets will probably will have the same starting rotation returning in 2019. In my opinion Corey Oswalt and if Rafael Montero comes back from his injury may have the best chance of competing against Zach Wheeler and Jason Vargas for the fourth and fifth spots in the starting rotation in 2019. The Mets can look to free agency and also make a trade to add to the bullpen or upgrade the catching and infield positions. It will be interesting to see what the Mets will do during the offseason.


5 comments:

Mack Ade said...

Dunn has had a decent, but not great, year.

He is 8-7,3.33 for the combined St.Lucie/Binghamton, but he is only 5-2, 4.07 in his past 10 starts.

The good news is the 71-K/59.2-IP he put up in those starts.

Mack Ade said...

Still, I would send Dunn to Syracuse on 2019 opening day.

We are going to need this guy in 2020.

Reese Kaplan said...

People have been promoted on far less. He should see how he fares against the next level of competition in a more representative environment in Syracuse than pitching hell that is the current Las Vegas AAA home.

Tom Brennan said...

I can see Dunn called up mid-2019 after some more refinement in Syracuse. Don't forget your thermals, Justin.

If he comes into spring training breathing fire, could he be switched to the pen early on and get here sooner?

David Peterson looking much better in his last several starts (last 4, allowed just 2 earned runs) and seems to have perhaps pulled close-to-even with Dunn.

Pablo Grullon said...

Bruh there's no way Wheeler is competing for a rotation spot next year the way he's been pitching the last 3 months. Hes been our #2 starter after degrom. Wheeler is entrenched in the rotatiom for next year which is also his walk year.