FIREBALLERS! YEAH, BABY!
Lots of new guys in rookie leagues pitch well in relief each year, but find the higher minors to be a whole different challenge.
But first, you have to pitch well in the lower minors.
Who is doing that in relief for the 3 rookie teams and the 2 DSL teams? It's early - but never too early to perform well:
BROOKLYN (MOSTLY) - LOTS OF PERFORMERS:
Jared Biddy - undrafted, but dazzling, with 7 outings spread across Kingsport, Brooklyn, and even a game for Columbia. The righty just turned 23 this week, and in 8.2 IP, 4 hits, no runs, a walk and 9 Ks. "This pro stuff is a breeze," he might just say.
Cole Gordon - a 23 year old lefty drafted in the 32nd round last month, he has pitched mostly for Columbia(!), and in 12 innings, is 1-0, 3.00 ERA, 16 Ks.
Nathan Jones - 5th rounder in 2019, he is listed as active, but has been in just one game for Brooklyn, and that was 5 weeks ago - why, I dunno, but it was a doozy: 2 hitless shutout innings, 5 Ks.
Justin Lasko, 22 year old 30th round righty, has already been in 9 games, 11.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 5 hits - and one of those outings was for 2 scoreless for Columbia.
Andrew Edwards, 31st round 22 year old lefty - 1.72 ERA, 15.2 IP, 15 Ks, 0-1, 3 saves.
Matt Mullenbach - an undrafted righty, he has allowed just 2 hits in 10.2 IP, 12 Ks, 1.72 ERA, 1-0, 3 saves.
Mitch Ragan - 1-2, 19.2 IP (a few short starts thrown in there), 15 Ks, 1.83 ERA. 15th round righty.
Dan Goggin, 22 year old righty - 2-0, 2.87 ERA, a sizzling 25 Ks in 15.2 IP.
MOVING ON TO KINGSPORT:
Not as numerous - the two best pen performers?
Josk Hedka - undrafted 22 year old righty. 8 G, 5.1 IP, 0.00, 7 Ks
Jefferson Escorcha - 19 year old int'l lefty - 4-0, 20.1 IP, 1.31 ERA, 15 K.
MOVING ON TO THE GCL METS:
Jhonfran Escalona - 20 year old righty (int'l): 26 IP, 16 K, 2-0, 0.35 ERA between DSL and GCL.
Joander Suarez - 19 year old righty (int'l): 19.2 IP, 2.29 ERA, 23 Ks
MOVING ON TO THE DSL (ALL INTERNATIONALS):
Antonio Villalba, 20 year old righty - 1-1, 1.20, 30.1 IP, 30 Ks
Daniel Juarez - 18 year old lefty - 0-1, 4.11 ERA - but 29 Ks in just 15.1 IP.
Pablo Marinez - 18 year old righty - 9.1 scoreless innings, 4 hits, 9 Ks
Jose Valdez - 18 year old righty - 3-0, 2.64, 30.2 IP and a gaudy 44 Ks.
Some interesting performances - 16 guys noted above. Keep up the good work, friends and amigos.
Biddy is really interesting
ReplyDeleteMore than Iddy Biddy interesting, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteA great movie would be: what would happen if all these guys woke up today and could throw 100?
Ervin Santana may be starting pitching for the Mets before you know it. Three straight strong AAA starts.
ReplyDeleteI think Santana is now the first call up when one of our stparters are traded this week.
ReplyDeleteI saw P.J. Conlon was released.
ReplyDeleteWhat?
ReplyDeleteHe was just rehabbing quite successfully.
Damn
One question I have is why the ball is different in MLB and AAA than the lower levels. Anthony Kay has commented on thus and I would think it impacted Villines and Zanghi when they went to AAA as well.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if PJ Conlon was a personality thing
ReplyDeleteWhen was the last time we actually produced a quality Relief Pitcher who was a relief Pitcher in the Minors?
ReplyDeleteEddie, How about Joe Smith?
ReplyDeleteWhat I read is that Conlon asked for his release to sign on elsewhere and the Mets made it happen.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Joe smith, then heath bell.
ReplyDeleteEddie, they are very few indeed.
ReplyDeleteTyler Bashlor may fit that bill at some point. Not yet.
Juarez has a great† reliever K rate, and Joander Suarez had a superb start today, so we one had Hekyll and Jekyll, now we have Juarez and Suarez.
ReplyDelete