Stephen Nogosek/Photo by Ed Delany, MMN

Right-handed reliever Stephen Nogosek was the highest rated prospect by MLB Pipeline the New York Mets received in return from the Boston Red Sox last July for reliever Addison Reed.

That’s easy to forget given that the other two players the Mets got in that trade, Jamie Callahan and Gerson Bautista, have both already made their Major League debuts.

Nogosek struggled in his first go-around with the Mets organization last year for the St. Lucie Mets when he allowed nine runs on 16 hits, eight walks and struck out 15 in 16 innings.

This year has been a completely different story for former sixth round pick from Oregon in 2016. He has 1.42 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and has held opponents to a .116 average in 12.2 innings so far in 2018 for the St. Lucie Mets. In that span he has struck out 14 and walked five.

He’s been even better recently, not allowing a run over his last 8.2 innings and has given up only two hits in that span.

Nogosek is a guy that throws a four-seamer, two-seamer, cuts the fastball at times too and also has a breaking ball in the low 80’s. Fastball is mostly 92-95, and has hit 97 mph this year. He also throws a few changeups though that is mostly just a show-me pitch.

A promotion to Double-A Binghamton for the 23-year-old should be on the horizon soon if he continues to pitch like he has recently.