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Dunn, Kay Named On Baseball America’s Hot Sheet

By John Sheridan

July 3, 2018 No comments

Justin Dunn/Photo by Ed Delany

While the Mets were excited about the debut about their 2018 first round draft pick, Jarred Kelenic, the organization must be equally thrilled about the recent performances of their 2016 first round draft picks – Justin Dunn and Anthony Kay.  The pair has been pitching so well people are beginning to take notice.

That includes Baseball America, who named the pair to their July 2, 2018 Propsects Hot Sheet

Dunn was ranked 12th after he pitched seven brilliant inning in ihs last start allowing just one earned on three hits while walking one and striking out 10.  The 10 strikeouts matched a career high he set earlier this season.  Of course, the 10 strikeouts in this start was more impressive as it came against a higher level of competition.

This is all part of the significant strides forward Dunn has made after a disappointing 2017 season.  As noted by Baseball America, he is leaps and bounds better this season:

He’s commanded the baseball better this season and has kept it low in the zone. That, coupled with his already-excellent three-pitch mix and big-time arm speed, have helped him put together a 2.51 ERA over the first three months of the season. His 80 strikeouts are already five more than he had all of last year — in roughly 24 fewer innings.

With respect to Kay, it was not a matter of improving but just getting on the mound.  Right after he was drafted, he would need Tommy John surgery costing him not just the end of the 2016 season, but also all of the 2018 season.  As a result, he only began his professional career this season.

This past week was probably the best stretch of his all too brief career.  In 6.2 innings, Kay would strike out a career high 11 batters in 6.2 innings while limiting Asheville to two earned on five hits.  On this performance and his season as a whole Baseball America proffered:

The Mets 2016 first-round pick missed two years with elbow troubles, but he finally made his pro debut this spring and showed increased velocity following Tommy John surgery. Kay’s season has been uneven as gets re-acclimated to pitching, but he was on the upswing last week, striking out a career-high 11 against Asheville while pitching into the seventh inning.

Ultimately, this was quite a good week for the pair of 2016 first round draft picks.  This week, as well as their 2018 seasons as a whole, have restored the faith in a pair of truly talented pitchers who have already received promotions this season.