Noah SyndergaardThe Mets have long been known to have high standards for homegrown pitching, and recently there has been an influx of starters that have come up and made an impact. Matt Harvey was the first of the recent influx and has been extremely successful, Zack Wheeler came up next and is currently making progress to becoming dominant, and currently Noah Syndergaard is on his way to making the big leagues. When Syndegaard makes his debut and pitches 50+ innings, a new pitcher will have to dethrone him as the top arm in the system. The Mets have depth from AAA Las Vegas all the way down to Low-A Brooklyn, but there are three pitchers who have the most potential to take the spot of top pitcher.

Steven Matz:

After being in 2009, Matz underwent Tommy John surgery- which was not too bad then. That being said, Matz did not make his debut until 2012 where he made a measly six starts across 29 innings in Kingsport. Then in 2013, Matz put himself on the map with a sparkling 2.62 ERA across 21 starts. Even with this extended success, he has flown under the radar, but is remaining relevant enough to exist on the 40-man roster. The future seems extremely bright for the left-hander who is destined for a call-up to Binghamton mid-season. If Matz continues dominating at Binghamton and AAA, he could force a mid-season call-up in 2015. The bottom line is that Matz is currently next in line to take the baton as the next big starting pitcher in the Mets minor league system.

Michael Fulmer:

After being drafted in 2011, Fulmer seemed to a huge steal at the 44th pick with a 2.74 ERA in 2012. He then suffered a major injury to his knee that kept him out until late in the season. The main knock on Fulmer has been his high walk rate and has a lower strikeout rate for a hard-thrower. If Fulmer can refine his pitches to work deep into games, then there is no doubt he will receive a call-up to AA- along with Matz. He seems as more of a 3rd or 4th starter with his low strikeout rate, but if Fulmer continues to grow then he will easily surpass Matz as a top pitcher.

Gabriel Ynoa:

As the dark horse candidate, Ynoa has been on the map for minor league buffs since his breakout performance in 2012. The master of control has been Cliff Lee good with only 16 BB in 135 IP last season translating to a 1.1 BB/9. The main knock on the kid is once again been the lack of strikeouts, but also the amount of hits he allows. With a ceiling of a refined Dillon Gee and the floor of Kevin Slowey in 2011 (.8 BB/9 with a 6.67 ERA) Ynoa has the potential to be a very solid starter in the majors.

These three starters all have serious potential in the majors but they all remain in A+ St. Lucie. The three pitchers here have to make adjustments and take enormous steps forward if they would like to be the top pitching prospect in the system next season.

11 comments on “Top 3 prospects that could dethrone Noah Syndergaard as top pitching prospect

  • Jerry Grote

    Perhaps not as best “prospect” … but I would certainly put JDG here.

    End of the day, he is putting up the zeroes so he’s the hero. Production trumps hype.

    • Julian

      This is very true, Jacob deGrom could very well be the best minor league pitcher in the Mets organization after Syndergaard and Montero. However, I would expect him to lose his rookie status after this season- probably by exceeding 50 IP.

  • eric

    I would substitute Bowman for Ynoa. Very impressed with his season so far.

    • Julian

      I have been impressed as well. That being said, Ynoa is the younger of the two and has had success, at a professional level, since he was 17. Matt Bowman needs to continue this success for another month while Ynoa needs to plummet for another month. Then Bowman can pass Ynoa.

  • djh

    no mention of Rafael Montero?

    • Julian

      Rafael Montero will make his debut before Noah Syndergaard, and my guess will be that Montero loses his rookie status before Syndergaard anyway. However, Montero is heads and shoulders above everyone on this list

  • tommyb

    I would not say Fulmer could easily surpass Matz. Since Matz is healthy again, he has pitched much better and has great stuff. I’d say it is Fulmer who needs to up his game to Matz’s level.

    Ynoa has been great – before reaching high A this year. Rocky road since. Too early to put him up with the elite. Bowman is ahead of him. 3e we sure he is not the next Mark Cohoon?

    • Julian

      I may have exaggerated the potential Fulmer carries over Matz. However, Fulmer still remains a top competitor after flashing his potential in 2012.

      Here’s the thing tommyb, prospects are always a gamble. There is no guarantee that Harvey-Wheeler-Syndergaard will end up any better than Generation K (knock on wood).

      Ynoa has shown more in his young career than Bowman- especially considering he has pitched well at a professional level since his age-17 season. Bowman could easily surpass Ynoa and win a Cy Young award while Ynoa says in the purgatory we call AAAA. Right now it just seems that Ynoa has more promise than Bowman.

    • Julian

      I may have exaggerated the potential Fulmer carries over Matz. However, Fulmer still remains a top competitor after flashing his potential in 2012.

      Here’s the thing tommyb, prospects are always a gamble. There is no guarantee that Harvey-Wheeler-Syndergaard will end up any better than Generation K (knock on wood).

      Ynoa has shown more in his young career than Bowman- especially considering he has pitched well at a professional level since his age-17 season. Bowman could easily surpass Ynoa and win a Cy Young award while Ynoa stays in the purgatory we call AAAA. Right now it just seems that Ynoa shows more promise than Bowman.

  • Jim OMalley

    I like Ynoa too; what about Chris Flexen? Too young? We also still have the player to be named later in the Davis deal.

    • Julian

      I am not a very big fan Chris Flexen (but since he is a Met I hope he does well). He has also struggled this season thus far. In the Ike Davis deal, if the Mets bring in another starting pitcher-not named Jameson Taillon-I might throw up.

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