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ICYMI: Mets Minors All-Stars, Bullpen Led By Paul Sewald

By Michael Mayer

February 9, 2016 No comments

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This is the fourth and final part of our own All-Star team that brings you the best performers from the Mets minor leagues in the bullpen. This particular group was tough to be to pick with so many guys in the Mets system having good years out of the pen. I will repeat that the team we put together was not bases on prospect standing but purely on how each player statistically did in 2015.

I originally meant to keep this team to 25 players but was unable to when I got to the bullpen and didn’t want to leave out some strong performers. Here are my choices for the best performances out of the bullpen:

Closer – Paul Sewald (Binghamton Mets) The 25-year old right-hander had another great season posting a 1.75 ERA (7th best in Eastern League, 50 IP/MIN) and collecting a career high 24 saves (3rd in EL). He had a sparkling 0.86 ERA which was fourth in all of Double-A baseball. He allowed only 34 hits in 51.1 innings and struck out 56 despite being a guy that lives in the 89-92 range with his fastball. He did not allow a run in his first 16 innings of the season and was an EL All-Star.

Closer – Alex Palsha (Brooklyn Cyclones, Savannah Sand Gnats) The right-handed closer was unhittable in the New York-Penn League holding opponents to a .125 average in 24.2 innings. He had a 0.36 ERA (2nd in NYPL/Min 20IP), 0.77 WHIP (5th), and 13 saves which was tied for second in the league. He did not allow a homerun extending the homerless streak to begin his career to 43.2 innings. The 23-year old and Mets 2014 27th round pick struck out 34 batters compared to 9 walks for the Cyclones. He pitched 1.2 innings for Savannah in the final week of the season.

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Setup – Akeel Morris (St.Lucie & Binghamton Mets) Outside of a rough Major League debut the 23-year old from the U.S. Virgin Island had another great season posting a 2.05 ERA in the minors. In 61.1 innings he allowed only 28 hits while striking out 81 batters. Opponents hit just .137 against the right-hander which was the second lowest in all of Minor League baseball (50 IP/MIN). His 0.93 WHIP trailed only Sewald in Mets full season minor league play. He also picked up 13 saves in 14 chances for St. Lucie and gave up only one run over his final 21 innings of the season for Binghamton.

Setup – P.J. Conlon (Brooklyn Cyclones) The Mets drafted Conlon in the 13th round in 2015 and the 22-year old sparkled in his pro debut. He pitched 17 innings for the Brooklyn Cyclones in his professional debut without giving up an earned run. The left-hander only allowed eight hits and two walks while striking out 25 hitters. He was even more dominant against left-handed hitters who went 2 for 16 with ten strikeouts off him.

LOOGY – Dario Alvarez (Binghamton, Las Vegas 51’s) Another pitcher that struggled in his short Major League stint in 2015 but was fantastic in the minors and actually performed better at AAA than AA. The 27-year old left-hander pitched 11 innings for the 51’s sporting a 2.45 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with 19 strikeouts. Lefties combined were a measly 9 for 66 against him with 35 strikeouts. Over his final 25 minor league innings he allowed three runs and struck out 39 hitters. For the season in the minors he had a 3.00 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and held opponents to a .181 batting average.

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Swingman – Kyle Regnault (St. Lucie Mets) The 27-year old left-handed had a great pro debut in 2015 with a 1.99 ERA and 1.06 for St. Lucie in a variety of different roles. He pitched in 39 games, making one start and also picking up seven saves. He allowed just 43 hits in 58.2 innings and struck out 53 batters. His ERA, WHIP, and opponents average were all fifth among full season Mets relievers.

Flamethrower – Josh Smoker (St. Lucie & Binghamton) The former first round pick of the Nationals impressed in his return to affiliate ball and not just on the radar gun where he was hitting 97 MPH with his fastball. Between Savannah, St. Lucie, and Binghamton he had a 3.12 ERA and 1.184 WHIP while striking out 11.0 batters per nine innings. Only allowed 39 hits in 49 innings including giving up just one long ball. He gave up only two runs in his first 15.2 Double-A innings before hitting a little bit of a fatigue wall towards the end of the season. For the season he held right-handed hitters to a .547 OPS.

Crossover – Alberto Baldonado (Savannah Sand Gnats) The left-hander from Panama had his best season setting career best with his 1.041 WHIP, 56.2 innings, and his 3.08 SO/W. His 11.8 K/9 was third best for Mets full season relievers behind Morris (11.89) and Alvarez (13.29). The 23-year old held opponents to a lowly .180 batting average and had a 1.91 ERA. He was effective against both lefty and righty holding them to a .562 OPS and .502 OPS respectively in 2015.

Other arms that received consideration where Misael Familia (1.21 ERA, DSL Mets), Paul Paez (2.14 ERA, 1.101 WHIP), David Roseboom (4.00 SO/W), and Christian Montgomery (43 K’s in 25 IP). Also of note was St. Lucie relievers Kelly Secrest (57.1) and Robert Coles (58.2) who were the only two Mets full season pitchers to pitch more than 50 innings and not allow a homerun.

The first three parts of the series included the Position Players Led by Dominic Smith, Rotation Topped by Robert Gsellman, and the Bench With MVP Luis Guillorme.

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