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
I thought Verrett lost his rookie eligibility last year
50 IP is the limit, so he’ll exhaust that pretty quickly.
Ahhhh. I thought he pitched 47 with the Mets and 4 with the Rangers
Nope, 38 with Mets and 9 with Rangers.
A little higher than I have him. He is fine as the long man or first starter out of Vegas, but I wouldn’t want to have to depend on him every fifth day.
Since we did this as a group think tank, he is a little higher than I would have him too. More like the 15-18 range but it’s tough to argue with the success he had last year at the MLB level.
His performance last season would be a very legitimate argument. My opinion is we saw the best 30 inning stretch of his career. Unfortunately he will be held to that by fans, instead of viewed as to what he is. Which is a serviceable #11 arm (Petit)
Ya I don’t think he ever repeats that WHIP or that start in Colorado. I do think he could be a serviceable #5 starter on some teams though. I know you agree with me but this comes back to the way we rank guys we think are certain bench pieces. There is limited upside here with Verrett but we know he will have some value in majors in some role which is very important I think when ranking prospects.
Verrett is even more valuable after that horrific performance by Montero yesterday
Certainly was ugly but let’s see how he bounces back. I would definitely say Verrett is first in line for a spot start if needed. I think we undervalue those type of swing guys, it’s much better to have someone like Verrett make a spot start than the Aaron Laffey’s of the world.
I know with his innings total he qualifylies as a rookie. But did his service time take him over the limit?
Not from what I have read, BA had him as their 18th prospect in the handbook.
Having roughly 30 days on the Rangers, then coming up in June for the Mets 45 days isn’t much
Agreed but BA is rarely wrong, it they are that is who I’m blaming!
Only reason i mentioned it, I am compiling a consensus among available publications and I am just adding him to my list. Granted I am waiting on my handbook
After doing some research, according to BR he did indeed exceed the rookie limits last season. Last time I trust Baseball America lol.
Best pure pitcher at AAA in 2014. Probably will be the opening day pitcher on 4/7 and it is dollar beer night! The young man has to hate the Mets.
Not sure why he would hate the Mets?
MLB.com says he is a rookie so who knows.
I can’t seem to remember anything correctly since becoming a father. You getting enough sleep? Didn’t you recently become a father as well?
All he has done in the minors is win. Viola names him the #1 guy at AAA. Doesn’t get a call up and then gets left off the 40 man roster. Gets sent back from the Rangers and they put him in the AAA pen. He gets called up by the Mets and performs quite well and gets the boot when the druggy comes back.Now the Mets name him Matt Harvey’s caddie. How would you feel?
To add insult to injury the Mets keep him on the 40 man as depth paying him roughly 85k a year as a year two 40 man player. When he is on the 40 man in 2017 he is going to get fckd out some money. You know guys of his caliber can make 300k at AAA? Not only are the Mets fcking with his career they are fcking with the guys bank acct.
I don’t think Verrett takes this as personally as you think he does. Being sent up and down is part of baseball. He got his chance at the Majors last year and pitched pretty well but the Mets pitching staff is stacked.
The money issue is a MiLB wide issue that a ton of players deal with. The Mets also gave him a chance at the MLB level, that isn’t screwing up his career.
Yes I did, a little over a month old. We have been getting some sleep luckily, hopefully that continues!
Yeah he does. You think the Tigers wanted Cessa who got shalacked in AAA over Verrett? I think you over look that these guys are men with wives, babies and bills to pay just like you.