The key to success for any major league team is depth.

Whether it’s a young infielder that can spell a veteran third baseman for a game, or a promising starter in Triple-A that could step right into the rotation if need be, having that sort of player is crucial in the long grind that is the 162 game major league season.

Logan Verrett is certainly ready to provide that depth in 2016.

#11 RHP Logan Verrett

Ht: 6’2″ Wt: 190 Age: 6/19/1990 (25)

2015 Level: MLB New York Mets/Texas Rangers, Triple-A Las Vegas 51s

MLB Statistics: 18 G, 4 GS, 47.2 IP, 1-2 W-L, 3.59 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, .202 BAA, 39/15 K/BB, 6 HR

MiLB Statistics: 18 G, 11 GS, 64.2 IP, 5-3 W-L, 4.59 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, .278 BAA, 53/19 K/BB, 1 HR

Verrett’s 2015 season got off to a wild start. Originally selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the Rule V Draft in December of 2014, he was claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers, four days before the regular season was set to begin. With no prior major league experience, Verrett made the Rangers’ Opening Day roster. He was eventually returned to the Mets on May 4, after appearing in four games with Texas, all in a relief role.

The road to the major leagues was not a lengthy one for the native Texan. Verrett was selected by the
Mets in the third round of the 2011 draft, after establishing himself as a dominant starter in three years at Baylor University. He was held out of games until 2012, when he made 17 starts between Savannah
(A) and St. Lucie (A+). That season was highlighted by a complete game shutout with the Sand Gnats on July 10.

In 2013, Verrett joined Binghamton (AA), and helped them finish in first place in the Eastern League for the first time since 2000. By 2014, he had cemented his place among the Mets’ top pitching prospects not named Noah Syndergaard, and threw the most innings of his young career with Las Vegas (AAA).

After rejoining the Mets organization in May of 2015, Verrett returned to the 51s for ten games, before making his Flushing debut. A career starting pitcher in the minor leagues and college, Verrett was relegated to a bullpen role. “I feel like I’ve done well out of the bullpen and shown them that I can be effective,” he told ESPN shortly after his promotion.

There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that the signature moment of Verrett’s career to this point came on the afternoon of August 23. That day, in Colorado, the 25-year-old limited the inferior Rockies lineup to one run, and a mere four hits, while striking out eight batters over eight innings. Of the 43 other Mets who have made a start at Coors Field, which opened in 1995, none had ever lasted as long as Verrett did that day.

He throws the basic four pitch mix: four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, changeup, and slider. Occasionally he’ll toss in a curveball, but he relied on the slider heavily last season, netting 21 of his 39 major league strikeouts with the pitch. Along with a fastball that approached 92-93 miles per hour at times last season, Verrett possesses a potentially strong arsenal.

Because of some pretty good pitchers that already occupy all five spots, it’s clear that Verrett’s future role is not in the Mets’ rotation. A more plausible outcome, however, would be as a middle inning reliever who could neutralize big hitters with his offspeed stuff. He should crack the Opening Day roster as a long reliever, with a chance to make spot starts as needed.

But remember, depth is the key.

#12 Seth Lugo, #13 Jhoan Urena, #14 Gabriel Ynoa, #15 Ali Sanchez, #16 Luis Guillorme, #17 Chris Flexen, #18 Max Wotell, #19 Milton Ramos, #20 Akeel Morris, 25-21, 30-26 35-31, 40-36, 45-41, 50-46, 60-51, 70-61, 80-71