Pages

▼

5/14/23

Future Prospect - Relief Pitcher Nathan Lavender

 


Future Prospect - RP Nathan Lavender

 


Did you know that the Mets actually have a reliever in their chain that has never pitched badly? 

23-year old, 6-2 LHRP Nathan Lavender was drafted in the 14th round of the 2011 draft, out of the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign, via the wrong El Paso HS (Illinois, not Texas). 

 He pitched in four games that season for the FCL-Mets, posting a 1.35-ERA. 

In 2022, for the the combined St. Lucie and Brooklyn team, his stat line was: 26-appearances, 6-3, 1.70, 47.2-IP, 67-K. 

Like that? 

Well, so far this year, for the combined teams of Binghamton and Syracuse, he is lights out on a current streak of 14.1 scoreless innings

Lavender throws from a 3/4 arm slot, slinging the ball with long arm action through the back. His fastball is topping out in the mid-90s and has a high spin rate as well as a 17 inch vertical rise. He has added  a curve, slider, and change since his college days. 

Me? 

He’s in Syracuse now. Let him close there for the remainder of the season. The Mets may have a legitimate back-end reliever here for 2024.

on

9 comments:

  1. AbnerMay 14, 2023 at 9:15 AM

    Sounds like h might be ready sooner than that! How about early July?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mack AdeMay 14, 2023 at 9:20 AM

      No.

      Don't rush him.

      Small sample.base so far at AAA

      Delete
  2. Tom BrennanMay 14, 2023 at 9:16 AM

    Pitchers are a different breed. Hitters wait eternally for a call up, blocked by existing offensive player contracts in Queens.

    If Lavender keeps pitching like this, he could show up by mid-season, I’d think, if he continues to prove his effectiveness.

    Grant Hartwig’s recent stumbling show that patience is important.

    Meanwhile fellow lefty reliever Josh Walker continues to be another rare Syracuse pitcher doing very well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mack AdeMay 14, 2023 at 9:22 AM

      Tom is correct here (as usual).

      Walker could actually hit Queens first

      Delete
  3. John From AlbanyMay 14, 2023 at 9:59 AM

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShvZIjrinWY

    Video of Nathan Lavender from yesterday.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Rds 900.May 14, 2023 at 10:30 AM

    Drafted in 2011 - pretty young guy then. I say if he can pitch bring him sooner rather than later.

    ReplyDelete
  5. bill metsiacMay 14, 2023 at 7:36 PM

    The numbers don't add up. 23 years old, drafted out of college 12 years ago???

    ReplyDelete
  6. bill metsiacMay 14, 2023 at 7:39 PM

    Never mind. I see that he was draftd TWO years ago (2021). That adds up.

    ReplyDelete