John from Albany - The Alternative 50 Mets Prospects, Numbers 15-11.

These next five, I am looking at 5 starting pitchers. 

#15: Josh Wolf, Starting Pitcher, Bats Right, Throws Right, DOB 9/1/2000, 2nd round, 2019 Draft.  I really like what the Mets did last year in the June Draft.  We have all heard about Brett Baty and Matthew Allan. In the Second Round the Mets selected another solid prospect in Josh Wolf.  Baseball America said that Josh Wolf could be a “Second Round Steal”.

As a pitcher that threw as high as 96 mph in his Senior Year in High School with the ability to pound the zone, they could be correct.  Josh pitched just 5 games – 8 innings for the Gulf Coast Mets after getting drafted.  And was only scored on once.  His record was 0-1, 3.38 ERA, 9 hits, 3 Earned Runs, 1 walk, 12 strikeouts.  

Here’s Mack’s report on Josh when he was drafted in June.  Mack had him as his #8 prospect.  Tom had him at #11.  

I am looking forward to see where Josh winds up in 2020.  Depending on how fast they move him the next two years, he may be in NY in 2023 or 2024.

Here is Josh Wolf’s FANGRAPHS page.

Here is Josh Wolf’s Baseball Savant page.

Metsmerized interviewed Josh shortly after being drafted.

SNY.TV said get to know Josh Wolf (video of Josh throwing included).

More video included in this Metsmerized profile on Josh.

#14: Garrison Bryant, Starting Pitcher, Bats Left, Throws Right, DOB 12/3/1998, 36th round, 2016 Draft. 

On these prospect lists, you have players with tremendous potential and you have players that have had really good results.  Garrison falls into the second category.  Last year Garrison was the Ace of the NY Penn Champion Brooklyn Cyclones.  In his fourth professional season, Garrison led the team with a 5-1 record, 2.39 ERA, 75 K’s in 75.1 innings, and a .84 WHIP.  

With a fastball that tops out in the low 90’s, Garrison is not seen as a huge prospect.  However, he as I said earlier, he was the best pitcher on Brooklyn last year over the entire season and threw six shutout innings in his start in the championship series.  

After the 2020 season, Garrison will be eligible for the rule five draft.  I think that means he may end up in Binghamton before the end of the year to see if he is worth protecting on the 40-man roster. 

Here is Garrison Bryant’s FANGRAPHS page.

Here is Garrison Bryant’s Baseball Savant page.

Video of Garrison Bryant pitching last year for Brooklyn.

John Smoltz interviewing Garrison Bryant.

#13: Harol Gonzalez, Starting Pitcher, Bats Both, Throws Right, DOB 3/2/1995, Signed by the New York Mets as an International free agent on March 26, 2014. 

After a tough 2018 season, Harol Gonzalez had a big bounce back year in 2019 for Binghamton and Syracuse.  After going 6-4 with a 3.14 in 17 games for Double A Binghamton, he went 6-0 for Syracuse with a 2.68 ERA in 8 games.  He even combined with Ryder Ryan to throw a no hitter for Binghamton in May 2019.  

Big improvement from 2018. Harol pitched in St. Lucie, Las Vegas and Binghamton in 2018 but his 2018 Binghamton stats were most glaring as he went 0-9 in nine starts with a 7.79 ERA. 

Pitching for in the Dominican League this winter, Harol was 0-2; 5.52 ERA; 6 Games; 14.2 innings, 25 hits, 11 runs, 9 earned, 7 walks, 12 Ks.  

Harol will be a starting pitcher in Syracuse to start 2020.  Should there be injuries in Flushing, he could be an option to fill in.  Mack had Harol as his #25 Prospect.

Here is Harol Gonzalez’ FANGRAPHS page.

Here is Harol Gonzalez’ Baseball Savant page.

Video from the May No-hitter.

Harol pitching for Columbia in 2017.

#12: Thomas Szapucki, Starting Pitcher, Bats Right, Throws Left, DOB 6/12/1996 in Toms River, NJ, 5^th round, 2015 Draft. 

Injuries have been Thomas Szapucki’s downfall thus far.  His stellar 2016 season where he struck out 82 batters in 52 innings was cut short due to a back injury.  He had shoulder problems in 2017 and then later in the season had to be shut down due to Tommy John surgery.  He missed all of 2018.  

In 2019 he split time with Columbia and St. Lucie and made one start for Binghamton in August.  His 2019 line: 1-3, 2.63 ERA, 21 games, 18 starts, 61 innings, 72 Ks, 26 walks, 1.22 WHIP.  

The word is that his velocity dropped after the Tommy John surgery but was still around 95 MPH.  His curve ball was one of his best pitches but still was not fully back.  

Still, Rule 5 eligible this past season, Thomas was added to the 40 man roster as left handed pitchers are always in demand.  

Possible that he will start in Binghamton this year with a move to Syracuse later.  

Tom had Thomas Szapucki as his number #6 prospect.  Mack had him as his #4 prospect.

Here is Thomas Szapucki’s FANGRAPHS page.

Here is Thomas Szapucki’s Baseball Savant page.

Ernest Dove posted this video of Thomas Szapucki pitching last year for St. Lucie.

#11: David Peterson, Starting Pitcher, Bats Left, Throws Left, DOB 9/3/1995, 1^st round, 2017 Draft. 

The 20th overall draft pick in 2017, had an uneven season in 2019, 3W-6L, 4.19 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, striking out 122 in 116 innings with 119 hits and 37 walks. 

He did finish the season better over his last 4-5 games and then followed up his season in Binghamton with a 0-1 3.46, mark over 4 starts and 13 innings in Arizona.  However, in his first three Arizona starts Dave gave up no earned runs but had a tough outing his last time out going 2.2 innings and giving up 5 runs.  

He is 6’6” 240 pounds.  Per Baseball savant: “Peterson's fastball is average in terms of velocity, as he'll sit at 89-91 mph and touch 93, but few starters in the Minors can sink and command it as well as he does.”  

SNY.TV saw him as possible 2020 rotation option.  More likely, he will go to Syracuse where he will need to take the next step in his development.  

Mack had him as his #14 prospect.  Tom had him as his #13 prospect.

Here is David Peterson’s FANGRAPHS page.

Here is David Peterson’s Baseball Savant page.

Video of David Peterson pitching in the Arizona Fall League.