The New York Mets bullpen is one of the youngest groups of pitchers in Major League Baseball, with five members being under 30. The group has talent, which they have effectively exploited and dedicated time to developing.
However, having that amount of youth comes with a lack of experience and leadership. That is something President of Baseball Operations David Stearns has tackled this offseason, signing two proven relievers. The Mets can further improve their bullpen if they can make another significant signing before the start of spring training.
An Abundance of Prospects
If one thing is certain, it is that the Mets’ bullpen is full of prospects looking to make a good first impression. For example, Nolan McLean already showed signs of potential, going 5-1 with 57 strikeouts in 48 innings. He made an immediate impact from his promotion from the minors, where he amassed 127 strikeouts in 21 games.
His teammate Jonah Tong did something similar, striking out six batters in his major league debut. However, the 22-year-old right-hander ended the season 2-3 after going 10-5 with the Mets’ minor league affiliates.
The Mets bullpen is also home to Brandon Sproat and Dylan Ross, two prospects who are looking to join the rotation this season. They will have the opportunity to showcase their capabilities during spring training. After that point, the Mets can determine if they are ready to play in the majors.
A Lack of Leadership
Even though the prospects have shown what they are made of, there are still some concerns with the bullpen. For starters, the group lacks veterans whose leadership can help those same prospects develop into well-rounded pitchers.
The Mets’ bullpen benefits from having David Peterson and Clay Holmes, two proven pitchers who led the bullpen last season. Peterson, for example, went 9-6 in 30 starts with 150 strikeouts. Those statistics helped him make his first career All-Star appearance.
The front office has begun to address this problem by adding Devin Williams and Luke Weaver to the bullpen. Williams, a veteran two-time All-Star reliever, is expected to be the closer with Weaver as his setup man. That combination is what the New York Yankees did last season, although it did not go as planned. However, a key difference is that Williams is reunited with Stearns, who was the Milwaukee Brewers‘ former president of baseball operations.
Looking Ahead
The Mets’ bullpen still has room for another addition, which can improve their chances of competing in the always competitive NL East. Multiple reports indicate that the team is looking to sign All-Star pitcher Framber Valdez before the start of spring training. If that’s the case, then the Mets will benefit from adding another starter, who went 13-11 with a 3.66 ERA last season.
More New York Mets Articles
More MLB Articles
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
- Category
-
New York Mets
