Justin Dunn/Photo by Ed Delany

Baseball America released their weekly prospect hot sheet with the New York Mets’ pitching prospect Justin Dunn coming in at No. 4 on the list.

The 2016 first rounder had two starts last week. In each start, he went six innings and gave up a combined two earned in both starts. His total line read: 12 IP, 15 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 13 K.

Here is what Baseball America wrote on the lanky righty: “Binghamton has treated Dunn quite well since earning a promotion from high Class A St. Lucie. He’s shown easy velocity this year from a whip-quick arm, as well as an improved ability to drive balls down in the zone. His 107 strikeouts this year are the second-most in the Mets’ organization and his 2.52 ERA is the best among pitchers at full-season levels.”

What a difference a year makes? Last year, Dunn was striking out just 17.3% of hitters in St. Lucie and walked 11.1% of the hitters he faced. The Mets made him repeat St. Lucie to begin this year and he responded by striking out roughly 26% of the hitters he faced and walking just 7.6% of the batters. Now in Binghamton, he is striking out 27.5% of the batters he faces and walking just 8.8% of them.

The Mets have to be thrilled by the progress he has made. He looks very comfortable in Binghamton and his slider has regained it’s late break to it. Keith Law recently had him as a honorable mention for his Top 50 prospect list and we gave Dunn a pretty good ranking on our Top 50 Mets prospects list.

Overall, Dunn has thrown roughly the same number of innings last year so he should be fine pitching the rest of the season without worry about his innings limit. At this rate, Dunn will likely begin the 2019 season in Syracuse and have his fist knocking on the door for a Major League promotion.