MACK - DEEP DIVE - RP/SP Saul Garcia - RHRP Austin Troesser - RHRP Brian Metoyer

 

Q

Ernest Dove               @ernestdove

(Extreme small sample size alert)

Mets 22 yr old RP prospect Saul Garcia now through 5 app in AA has a 3.24 BB/9.

Why is that important?

Pro minor league career BB/9 is 5.69

I don’t need to mention his stats. Nobody hits him. Some of the filthiest stuff in system.

        A deep dive…

Saul García is a right-handed pitcher in the New York Mets organization, born on June 11, 2003, in Naguanagua, Venezuela.

At 21 years old, he stands at 6’0” and weighs 180 pounds. Signed as an international free agent by the Mets in June 2021, García is considered a late bloomer who has risen to become the Mets’ No. 29 prospect according to MLB Pipeline.

He’s part of the Flores baseball family, being the first cousin of former Mets infielder Wilmer Flores.

Currently, he plays for the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones, having also spent time with the Single-A St. Lucie Mets and the Florida Complex League Mets.

Career Overview

García has shown promise as a multi-inning reliever with the potential to transition into a starter role, though his ultimate future might be in the bullpen. His 2024 season included stints at both St. Lucie and Brooklyn, with notable performances such as a four-inning relief outing on July 31, 2024, where he recorded nine strikeouts, and a five-inning scoreless appearance on September 5, 2024, with six strikeouts. Despite a brief stint on the 7-day injured list in 2023, he has remained active and continues to develop within the Mets’ system. His assignments include:2022: Florida Complex League Mets

Pitching Repertoire

Fastball:     His primary pitch, described as “interesting” and effective at getting above barrels, suggesting good movement or life. It sits in the mid-to-high 90s, with reports of him “throwing hard” per Wilmer Flores.

Slider:      A sweeping slider in the low-80s, which complements his fastball as a key out-pitch. It’s noted for its effectiveness and is one of his “calling card” pitches.

Changeup:       A secondary pitch still in development, used less frequently but part of his growing arsenal as the Mets work to expand his pitch mix, particularly for potential use as a starter.

Development and Outlook

The Mets are focusing on improving García’s command, with strike-throwing being his biggest area for growth, especially at younger levels. The organization has used him primarily as a multi-inning reliever but plans to stretch him out as a starter to test his versatility. Scouts and team officials see his fastball-slider combination as a solid foundation, with the potential to refine his changeup to enhance his effectiveness against hitters. His ability to miss bats is evident from his high-strikeout performances, but consistency in the strike zone will be key to his progression.García’s work ethic is highlighted by those close to him, including Wilmer Flores, who notes that García trains alongside his brother (a Tigers pitching prospect) and has worked hard to reach his current level. While he’s still in the early stages of his professional career, his inclusion in the Mets’ Top 30 prospects list signals optimism about his potential to contribute at higher levels, possibly as a reliever if the starter experiment doesn’t pan out.

Ernest Dove                @ernestdove

Mets RP prospect Austin Troesser looks to be finally healthy now & its showing in August in High A

6 app      7 inn      3 H     0 ER      3 BB      6 K

Post draft 2023 was told hes a work in progress possible late bloomer stud type arm

Seems like hes missed time ever since draft.

      A deep dive…

Austin Troesser is a right-handed pitcher in the New York Mets organization, drafted in the 4th round (135th overall) of the 2023 MLB Draft from the University of Missouri.

Born on March 29, 2002, in Jefferson City, Missouri, Troesser stands 6’3” and weighs approximately 189 pounds. He is currently a prospect in the Mets’ minor league system, having played for the Single-A St. Lucie Mets and High-A Brooklyn Cyclones

Background

Troesser attended Fatima High School in Westphalia, Missouri, where he led his team to a state championship in 2019 with an 11-strikeout complete game. He walked on at the University of Missouri, where he pitched for three years, both as a starter and reliever, compiling an 8-5 record with a 4.98 ERA over 77.2 innings. His standout collegiate season was 2022, with a 3.64 ERA in 29.2 innings. After his junior year in 2023, where he posted a 4.73 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 45.2 innings, he entered the transfer portal but was drafted by the Mets and signed for $350,000.

Professional Career

Troesser’s professional debut in 2023 was brief, pitching one inning for the FCL Mets, where he struck out three but allowed a walk and a hit-by-pitch. In 2024, he progressed to Single-A St. Lucie, where he showed promise, notably striking out eight in a start on April 20, 2024, and contributing to a combined two-hit effort with Jonah Tong against the Tampa Tarpons.

His season ERA at St. Lucie was an impressive 1.54 before he was promoted to Brooklyn Cyclones.

Pitching Repertoire

Troesser’s pitching arsenal includes:

Fastball:      Sits in the 94-98 mph range with significant life and natural run, boasting a 28% miss rate in college. Its high induced vertical break (20.8 inches) makes it a power pitch that generates swings and misses.

Slider:         A low-80s offering that has flashed plus potential, serving as a potential out-pitch. It complements his fastball effectively in relief roles.

Curveball:     Described as a power curve, though less frequently mentioned than his fastball and slider. It adds depth to his repertoire, particularly when he was used as a starter in college.

Pitching Style and Outlook

Troesser throws from a three-quarters arm slot with an effortful delivery, which can impact his command but maximizes velocity. While he has some starter potential due to his three-pitch mix, his profile suggests a future as a late-inning reliever, leveraging his two plus pitches (fastball and slider). His time at the Mets’ pitching lab in Port St. Lucie has focused on biomechanical analysis to refine his delivery and efficiency, with goals to add weight (targeting 200-210 pounds) to enhance durability. Troesser emphasizes hard work and sees himself as having untapped potential within the Mets’ system.

Current Status and Future

As of September 2025, Troesser remains a developing prospect with limited professional innings due to injuries. His early performances show promise, particularly in generating strikeouts, but his health and command will be critical for his progression. The Mets view him as a potential starter, though his high-effort delivery and relief success in college suggest a bullpen role may be his fastest path to the majors

Daniel Wexler                   @WexlerRules)

What a year by Brian Metoyer.  37.1 innings 52 hits 1.93 era after missing 2023 and 2024 and pitching 7.1 innings since 2021

                A deep dive…

                Brian Metoyer is a right-handed relief pitcher in the New York Mets organization, drafted in the 40th round of the 2018 MLB June Amateur Draft from Louisiana State University of Alexandria.

Born on November 13, 1996, in Natchitoches, Louisiana, he stands 6’4” and weighs around 173-177 lbs.

He has not yet debuted in the Major Leagues and has been sidelined by injuries in recent years, missing the entire 2023 and 2024 seasons due to recovery from Tommy John surgery in 2022.

Career Overview

Metoyer, a tall and lanky pitcher, began his professional career in 2018 with the GCL Mets and Kingsport Mets, posting a 5.11 ERA across 12.1 innings.

In 2019, he pitched for the Brooklyn Cyclones (High-A), recording a 5.65 ERA over 28.2 innings with 40 strikeouts but struggling with control (22 walks).

His best season came in 2021, split between Brooklyn and Binghamton (Double-A), where he posted a 2.18 ERA in 33 innings with 46 strikeouts and a 36.1% strikeout rate, leading all Mets full-season minor leaguers. In the 2021 Arizona Fall League, he showed flashes of brilliance but struggled with command.

In 2022, he was assigned to the Syracuse Mets (Triple-A) before undergoing Tommy John surgery, which halted his progress.

The Mets re-signed him to a minor league deal in January 2025, indicating continued belief in his potential despite recent setbacks.

Pitching Repertoire

Metoyer is primarily a two-pitch pitcher, relying on a fastball and a curveball, with a changeup as a developing third pitch. Here are the details of his repertoire based on available information:

Fastball:              His primary pitch, sitting in the low-90s (averaging 92 MPH) with the ability to touch 97 MPH in college. He can manipulate it into three variations: a four-seam fastball, a cut fastball (slightly higher velocity), and a sinking fastball (slightly lower velocity). In 2021, it generated a 65% ground ball rate, though it was often hit hard, indicating a need for better command. Post-injury, it’s unclear if his velocity has fully returned.

Curveball:           His standout pitch, considered his best offering with elite spin rates (averaging 3,205 RPM and peaking at 3,492 RPM in the 2021 Arizona Fall League). It sits in the high-70s to low-80s (79-81 MPH) with significant vertical break (50-60 inches) and horizontal movement (12-16 inches), leading to a 100% whiff rate in limited samples (3/3 swings in one 2021 outing). Its high spin and sharp drop make it a bat-missing pitch, though command remains a challenge.

Changeup:          A developing pitch, sitting in the mid-to-high-80s (86-89 MPH) during his college years. Metoyer has noted working on improving this pitch to complement his curveball, but it’s less prominent in his arsenal and not frequently mentioned in recent scouting reports, suggesting it’s still a work in progress.

Pitching Style and Mechanics

Metoyer throws from a three-quarters arm slot with a long arm action, which may contribute to his control issues but adds deception to his pitches. His high spin rates, particularly on the curveball, give him swing-and-miss potential, but his walk rates (e.g., 22 walks in 28.2 innings in 2019) highlight a need for improved command. His 65% ground ball rate in 2021 suggests effectiveness when inducing weak contact, especially with a strong defense behind him.

Current Status and Outlook

As of 2025, Metoyer remains in the Mets’ minor league system, but his prolonged absence due to injury makes his future uncertain. His high strikeout rates and elite curveball spin suggest mid-relief potential if he can regain health and refine his command. Comparisons have been drawn to former Mets reliever Seth Lugo due to similar velocity and breaking ball spin, but Metoyer’s injury history and lack of recent game action temper expectations. He’ll need to prove he can return to form, likely starting in Triple-A Syracuse, to push for a Major League role.