Anthony Kay/Photo by Ed Delany

According to Tim Healey of Newsday, the New York Mets are promoting left-handed starting pitching prospect Anthony Kay from Low-A Columbia Fireflies to the Advanced-A St. Lucie Mets.

Kay, 23, had his best start as a professional on Thursday night when he went 6.2 innings allowing only two runs (reliever let both inherited runners score) on five hits. He struck out a career-high 11 batters and didn’t issue a walk.

The Mets drafted in Kay – a Ward Melville graduate like Steven Matz – in 2016 with the 31st overall pick though he would undergo Tommy John surgery a few months later and didn’t make his pro debut until this season.

In 13 starts this season for the Fireflies, is 4-4 with a 4.54 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and has struck out 78 batters compared to only 22 walks in 69.1 innings.

While the overall numbers aren’t flashy, the important thing is Kay is healthy, hitting as high as 96 mph with his fastball and has been getting good movement on his curveball.

He Kay becomes the third Mets former first rounder to get promoted this season joining fellow starters David Peterson (currently in St. Lucie) and Justin Dunn (Binghamton).