Casey Delgado is a right-handed  starter in the Mets organization. He made his Double-A debut for the Mets on April 10th but pitched the most this season with the St Lucie Mets.

The Mets signed Delgado in 2015 after he pitched part of three years in the Independent league. Delgado pitched 105 innings with the Sand Gnats last season in which he went 8-4 with a 3.17 ERA for the Gnats.

This season Delgado made four starts for the St Lucie Mets going a perfect 4-0 with a 2.67 ERA and 0.96 WHIP. His Double-A debut was a struggle allowing five runs on 11 hits in four innings.

MMN: First of all thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. You started this season in Single-A St Lucie with a 4-0 record. What is working for you?

Casey: I have been able to throw strikes and let my defense do the work. It’s easy to pitch to contact when you have infielders like Amed Rosario and Luis Guillorme behind you.

MMN: The Mets signed you out of Independent ball last year. What was the process of you signing with the Mets? How did it feel?

Casey: Well it was just another day in Traverse City, MI and I was out on the field throwing before BP. My manager Dan Rohn comes out with my phone in his hand and asks “is this your phone?” (In my head I’m thinking great what did I do? Am I in trouble?) so I say “yes”. He says “well you might want to keep in close, the Mets are about to call you. They want to sign you”. At this point I’m speechless and think I’m dreaming. So Ian Levin calls me, I leave a few hours later, drive 5 hours down Michigan, stay in a hotel, drive 17 hours the next day and pitch the following day in Savannah for the Sand Gnats. Crazy experience but I had been waiting for that call my whole life so I’m very thankful for it.

MMN: What would you say your strengths are?

Casey: My strengths are throwing strikes, mixing my pitches and being able to put a hitter away when I need to.

MMN: What is your pitch arsenal? Any pitches you are learning?

Casey: I throw a 4-seam fastball, sinker, curveball and circle change-up. I want to be able to command those four before I pick up another.

MMN: How do you prepare for a start?

Casey: My preparation starts the minute I get done with my previous start. I have a pretty strict routine that I stick to. I work hard in between starts to get my body ready for the next one.

MMN: What are your goals for this year?

Casey: My goals are to go out and pitch every five or six days and give whatever team I play for a chance to win. I think if I do that then I will be successful.

MMN: When did you notice you had a talent for pitching?

Casey: When my pitching coach in high school Danny Smith told me “you’re not hitting anymore because I can’t risk you getting hurt”. That was about the time I started to really focus on pitching and trying to perfect my craft.

MMN: Who has taught you the most about the game of baseball?

Casey: I have had a lot of influential coaches in my life, my dad who coached me up until high school, Danny Smith (high school pitching coach, Mike Corn and Ryan Pfleger (Columbia State CC), Joel Mangrum (Austin Peay), John Wakes (Frontier Greys) and Greg Caderet (Traverse City)

MMN: Who was your baseball idol growing up?

Casey: I always liked the players that played the game hard and did it the right way. I’ve had a lot of favorite players over the years but no one in particular.

MMN: Thanks for making time after your debut with Double-A Binghamton and good luck this season.

Casey: Thanks for having me.