Photo by University of Illinois

 

Nathan Lavender, LHP

B/T: L/L  Ht: 6’2  Wt: 210 LBS

Age: January 20, 2000 (21 years old)

Acquired: 2021 Mets 14th round draft pick (Illinois)

2021 Stats (FCL Mets): 0-0, 1.35 ERA, 4 G, 3 SV, 6.2 IP, 0.750 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9, 16.2 K/9

As we start to get into the final picks of the Mets 2021 draft haul, it is notable that the Mets took the opportunity to make the most of their 20 picks, cut in half from the typical pre-Covid 40 round draft.

The Mets signed every single pick (except first round pick Kumar Rocker due to issues arising during his post-draft medical) and seem to have honed in on filling the minor league system with players who stand a chance to both play at the upper rungs of the system, and possibly provide big league depth.

I submit that their 14th round pick, Nathan Lavender, left-handed pitcher out of the University of Illinois provides just that.

Lavender works with a very mechanically sound delivery, showcasing a clean arm action from a 3/4 slot and the ability to get solid spin on both his fastball and curveball. Despite his fastball typically sitting 89-92 mph, Lavender has shown an ability to miss bats, both in the Big Ten conference at Illinois (striking out 79 in 57 innings) and in his first taste of rookie ball with the Mets, where he struck out 12 batters in only 6.2 innings of work.

Last tweet about yesterday before I switch gears and focus on today’s games. Nathan Lavender was fantastic out of the pen for Illinois yesterday. Inherited a runner in a tie game in 7th. Worked 3IP, 2H, 1R, 1BB, 6K (W, 2-0). Struck out the side in the 9th. FB: 88-91, CB: 72-73. pic.twitter.com/U2Uw3Pxy33

— Burke Granger (@burkegranger) March 20, 2021

Lavender currently utilizes his slow curve with good depth as his primary off-speed weapon to both lefties and righties. The well-spoken and poised young man divulged in a post-draft interview with local media that he began working with a new breaking ball grip during his draft spring, and has started to add the harder offering closer to 80 mph as a different look.

While many pitchers who miss bats as amateurs and early on in professional baseball will also have control issues, Lavender has made strides since the start of his college career, and his delivery seen above portends an ability to project even further command of his pitches as he gains reps and pro-instruction.

In fact, Lavender mentioned in the interview that the thing he is most excited about in joining the Mets organization is their focus on movement, not just in terms of pitch movement of course, but also in terms of body movement. Mets vice president of scouting Tommy Tanous has spoken about how his department really hones in on how players move, and they are clearly fans of Lavender’s delivery.

That also appears to be a focus for the player development team here, as they look to ensure Lavender’s pitching motion is optimized to allow for both command and velocity. The growing analytics department now also employs a biomechanist to aid in this area of development and scouting.

Developmentally, an immediate goal for Lavender and the Mets will likely be to see if they can get him more consistently into the low 90s with his fastball, as he has touched 93. Lavender did mention in the interview above that the Mets were having him stay consistent with his weight lifting in that regard since reporting to St. Lucie. Continuing to work with the analytics and field-level team on finding a harder breaking pitch than the current iteration would also figure to be part of his plan.

Whereas the Mets drafted a bunch of likely bullpen arms in some of the earlier rounds, Lavender has a starter’s body and delivery. He shows good coachability as well. There is a real chance here for backend starting pitching depth if some of the developmental goals come to fruition.