As week two of New York Mets summer camp starts up, they will have three new members to their workouts. The three pitchers are right-handers Jordan Humphreys and Matt Blackham and lefty Stephen Gonsalves.
#Mets prospect Jordan Humphreys finished with 9 strikeouts over 7 innings Monday night, he's now 6-0 in 6 startshttps://t.co/AynXxe1CE7 pic.twitter.com/AHlgvI3R5L
— Astro (@Astromets31) May 9, 2017
Humphreys was a high upside prospect pitched well through rookie and A-ball, but Tommy John Surgery derailed him in 2018. He only threw two innings in rookie ball in his 2019 return. Humphreys impressed in the Arizona Fall League with only one run allowed in 11.2 innings. The Mets put him on the 40-man roster before 2020. He is not overpowering, but his career 1.6 BB/9 is very impressive and just turned 24.
Major League Ready?
While Humphreys still seems a couple of steps away from the big leagues, Matt Blackham could contribute this year. He is a slender 5′ 10″ and listed at 150 pounds but has carried strikeout stuff throughout the minors. During his minor league career, he has a 2.38 ERA and 12.1 K/9. At age 27, Blackham could fit into the long line of late-blooming Mets at the big league level.
Here's some of Stephen Gonsalves' outing vs. Boston. He went three innings and gave up one earned run on three hits and two walks against a lineup filled with a bunch of Red Sox regulars. Struck out two, got five swinging strikes and a fair number of awkward swings.#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/06StnTmqWO
— Tom Froemming (@TFTwins) March 3, 2019
Gonsalves is the only addition with major league experience in his career. Highly touted throughout the minors, he had a career ERA under three before his 2018 call-up. Gonsalves had a 6.57 ERA, and constant injuries during his Minnesota Twins tenure caused them to put him on waivers. On Wednesday, he turned 26-years old, and the Mets hope he can rekindle his prospect talent.
All three pitchers come to the Mets as insurance should injuries or COVID-19 cause players to drop the same way it has throughout the NBA and NHL. The Mets have good luck so far with keeping their players healthy and engaged, but things can easily turn south quickly. With the expanded 30-man rosters to start the season, a stellar spring gives these pitches a chance to join a strong Mets bullpen.