PJ Conlon/Photo by Ed Delany

With  Jacob deGrom being placed on the 10-day disabled list on Sunday, the New York Mets will call-up left-handed starter P.J. Conlon to make Monday’s start against the Cincinnati Reds.

Conlon is MMN’s 24th ranked prospect and will have to be added to the 40-man roster which the Mets have an open spot after designating Matt Harvey for assignment.

Conlon, 24, was the Mets 2015 13th Round Draft pick out of the University of San Diego. As noted by MMN‘s Mathew Brownstein, Colon becomes the second Sandy Alderson draft pick drafted in the 13th round or later to make a Major League start. The other was Chris Flexen last year.

Even with Conlon having been drafted that low, he has already had a well decorated Minor League career. For the past two seasons, Conlon was both a mid-season all star and an MiLB.com Organizational All Star.  After a great 2016 season, he was not only the Sterling Award Winner for Mets Pitcher of the Year, but he was also MiLB’s Fan Choice for Best Starting Pitcher.

So far this year, Conlon is 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA, 1.583 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9, and a 7.9 K/9. Conlon’s poor ERA and WHIP are not unexpected with his pitching in the Pacific Coast League.  Despite the ERA and WHIP, Conlon has posted good walk, strikeout, and home run rates.

Certainly, with Mickey Callaway looking for a second left-handed reliever in the bullpen, and the Mets seemingly viewing Conlon as a reliever in the long-term, Conlon has an opportunity to impress.

Whatever the long-term plans for Conlon, he is on the verge of making history as he will become the first Mets pitcher born in Ireland, and he will be the first Irish born player to appear in the Majors since Joe Cleary played one game for the 1945 Washington Senators.