Quote: For Now, Mejia is a Thrower, not a Pitcher
Yesterday, in a report for Baseball Prospectus, minor-league guru Kevin Goldstein explains why he is confused about the current hype surrounding 20–year-old pitching prospect Jenrry Mejia, who is representing the Mets in the Arizona Fall League.
According to Goldstein, ‘Mejia is much more of a thrower than a pitcher, even for his age group.’
Goldstein says Mejia’s arm is ‘special,’ but, “It’s also a bit of a spectacular mess.”
In four starts during the AFL, Mejia has let up 11 runs and 14 hits in 7.2 innings, while striking out nine batters and walking nine.
In October, Adam Rubin of the Daily News said Jerry Manuel watched Mejia’s first start in the AFL, “to gauge whether he may be able to help the Mets in the bullpen in early 2010.”
Last week, Keith Law of ESPN.com said he sees Mejia as a starting pitcher some day, but he’s still two, full years from pitching in the Major Leagues.
… he has really, really struggled with runners on base… and has not shown an ability to work out of a jam… which, i would think, at 20, is totally fine… the point is, i think it’s a lot to ask that he step in and dominate in the bullpen next season, at least at the start of the season… i bet he just needs more work in the minor leagues, so he can, like goldstein said, work more on ‘pitching,’ not throwing… also, don’t forgot, he was injured this season, missed time, and yet still pitched in more innings that at any point in his life…
For more, check out Mets Minor League Blog, where Toby Hyde writes about Nick Evans, who has been DH’ing in the AFL, and Mets 23–year-old prospect Reese Havens, who has finally made his inevitable move to second base.
Interestingly, Havens hit .247 in 85 at bats for Brooklyn in 2008, and then again hit .247 in 430 at bats for St. Lucie in 2009.
