Update by Matt M., 8/19:
Syndergaard continues to get recognized for his spectacular 2013. He’s currently kept the opposition scoreless for 21 straight innings, earning him the top spot on today’s Prospect Notebook on Baseball America. Here’s what Ben Badler had to say about Thor:
The talk of the Mets farm system the last two years when it comes to pitching has centered around Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler. While Harvey has become a true ace and a Cy Young contender this season, there’s a chance Syndergaard could eventually eclipse Wheeler in the pecking order. After striking out 10 in five scoreless innings on Friday for Double-A Binghamton, the 20-year-old Syndergaard has a stretch of 21 straight scoreless innings, lowering his Eastern League ERA to 1.59 with a 64-10 K-BB mark in 51 innings. With a fastball that ranges anywhere from the low-90s up to 98 mph, Syndergaard throws just as hard as Wheeler, but his fastball command is well ahead of Wheeler’s. With the improvement of his secondary stuff this year, he has the look of a potential No. 2 starter.
That’s some high praise for the big right-hander. Syndergaard has everyone excited about his future with the organization. Can you imagine the electricity of a three-game sequence that will eventually feature him, Matt Harvey, and Zack Wheeler on the mound (in some kind of order)?
I’m sure Terry Collins is chomping at the bit to have a potential ace take the mound three out of every five days, and it’s looking like he’ll be able to see the fruits of his labor in 2014; rumors are saying the organization will indeed offer Collins a new contract this winter.
Original Article, 8/17:
Apparently, Noah Syndergaard was watching Zack Wheeler‘s start last night and he wanted to one-up him. Well, he didn’t strike out a dozen, but I think we’ll all take ten over five innings. Syndergaard has now strung together three straight outings of five shutout innings while allowing no more than three baserunners in each start.
Take that in for a minute… Noah Syndergaard has now tossed 15.0 straight shutout innings over three starts and has allowed only three baserunners in each of those starts. His final line today: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 0 ER, 10 K.
At this point, it seems pretty safe to ignore what Keith Law says about Thor… The more Syndergaard pitches in Double-A, the more he practically owns the entire league. Need some more numerical proof? Here are his combined number over his last nine starts: 5 – 0, 1.76 ERA, 46.0 IP, 34 H, 10 BB, 54 K, .205 opposing average. Keep in mind that not only is Syndergaard on an innings limit — but he had a rain shortened start that only lasted two innings.
Syndergaard is an extremely exciting prospect to cover… I fully expected five shutout innings from him today even before he started. Am I psychic? No, I’m sure most of you saw it coming too…but those ten strikeouts? Well. Keep on dominating, young grasshopper…Flushing awaits you next June.
By the way, the Binghamton Mets went on to win, but will need to wait at least one more day to clinch their spot with the New Hampshire victory.
(Photo Credit: Gordon Donovan)