Tom Brennan - Mets' 2021 2nd Rounder Calvin Ziegler is Impressing

Calvin Ziegler

I did not want to take my soon-coming hiatus without a brief missive on this exciting young guy: 

The Mets drafted Calvin Ziegler in the 2nd round of the 2021 draft.

So far this year in St Lucie, I am very pleased to note that the 19 year old righty (turns 20 in October) has started his minor league career like a house on fire:

6 starts, 24.1 IP

39 Ks

9 hits allowed

Any time you have a 4:1 strikeouts to hits allowed ratio, that is remarkable.   The remarkable Edwin Diaz right now in his so-far remarkable 2022 season has a 24:7 ratio, so Ziegler's ratio is slightly better - and these are his first 24 pro innings.

He has walked 15 and hit a batter so far, but his control has been very solid in 3 of the starts, so I think the high walk rate will resolve itself in short order. 

Opposing hitters are batting .117.  Can't hit what you can't see?  Only 9 of the 95 batters who've faced Ziegler have gotten hits off of him.  What is this, high school?

Again, this is a debut in low A ball, not rookie ball.

This has a little bit of a young Nolan Ryan feel to it.

By contrast, highly regarded but rehabbing Matt Allan had debuted in 2019 in lower rookie ball, where he allowed 10 hits in 10.1 innings with 14 Ks.

Back to Ziegler.  He was picked 46th overall last summer, and was actually ranked 268th overall.  The Mets' scouts ignored the 268 rank and seem to have nailed this one, big time.

I look forward to a rapid ascent from Ziegler, but before I go, reputed baseball draft expert Mack Ade, at draft time in July 2021, noted another writer indicating the following about the then 18 year-old Ziegler:

Command is Ziegler's biggest issue, something the 18-year-old said he's heard as well.

That, along with throwing more strikes and showing some consistency with off-speed pitches.  His stuff right now isn't half bad though.

Lots of strength with a mid to upper 90s fastball --- the scouting report indicates Ziegler tops out at about 97 mph, but he said he's reached 99 mph with it --- along with a curveball and a "kind of in the works, but still is a pretty good" change up.

I can hear it now at Citifield: 

"Let's go, Calvin!"

Can you hear it yet?