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It’s Time For Jack Leathersich

By John Bernhardt

June 9, 2013 No comments

Credit: Gordon Donovan

Credit: Gordon Donovan

It’s time.  Losing seven out of our last eight to the Miami Marlins is proof enough.  Measured changes at Citi Field are long overdue. Binghamton’s southpaw reliever Jack Leathersich has been nothing short of dominant this season — and his ascent to the show should be at the top of a long list of personnel changes.

As a B-Met fan who attends Binghamton games regularly, I would hate to see Leathersich go. He is a joy to watch pitch in person and never fails to deliver. Yet, player development is the primary purpose of the minor leagues, and Leathersich has proven he has electric stuff.  There is nothing left for Leathersich to prove in Binghamton and with the major league team playing AAA like ball in Flushing, there is much to gain in jumping Leathersich from Binghamton to the big club.

Leathersich has been lights out in Binghamton.  The kid has a mid 90’s fastball, above average curve and a funky windup that can be deceptive for opposing hitters.  Leathersich’s Eastern League strikeout numbers are dazzling.  In 28 innings, the B-Met pitcher has fanned 53 batters, nearly two per inning. He has held opposing hitters, as a whole, to a miniscule .170 average.

In late May, Rob Castellano of SB Nation reported Leathersich’s strikeout percentage was a full 20% higher than the average in the Eastern League. Leathersich misses bats — this is something I can validate from my visits to NYSEG Stadium this spring. He is also improving his command, as he has walked only three batters in his last twelve innings, after he walked ten in his first 13.0 to begin the season.

Sandy Alderson just reported that Robert Carson is headed back to Triple-A.  At the press conference Alderson reported the Mets will be looking for a second left-handed arm to offer support to Scott Rice in the bullpen.  The numbers are literally screaming at Alderson to make the call for Leathersich.  His 1.61 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and those crazy strikeout numbers all build a case for adding Leathersich to the major league team.  Elevating Leathersich now provides the Mets adequate time to conduct a fair evaluation to help determine if the lefty reliever should be part of the team’s overall improvement plan.

Thoughts From Satish R. 

You know what? Leather Rocket would be better served to pitch in Flushing than with the Las Vegas team at this point and he is absolutely dominating AA. He is the most advanced relief pitcher in our system right now and has recently drawn rave reviews, including a comparison to Billy Wagner from our own Joe D.

The only issue here is that Leathersich is not only the 40-man roster, and the Mets have only one open spot. My original idea that was the Mets would promote Josh Satin and Collin Cowgill for Ike Davis and Mike Baxter, respectively. Satin would take up a new spot on the 40-man and that would likely leave Josh Edgin as the man in line to be promoted for Robert Carson. That being said, the Mets could drop Carson from the 40-man and promote Leathersich with Satin — or promote Andrew Brown over Satin and then take Leathersich…

Bottom line? Keep your eyes and ears open.