The Mets announced over the weekend that they have signed Anthony Vizcaya, 28, to a minor league contract.
Vizcaya has pitched well this year in the Venezuelan Winter League, where he won set-up man of the year, pitching to 2.05 ERA in 22 innings. He then reportedly touched 97 mph with his fastball during the Caribbean World Series, where he also pitched well over four scoreless innings.
Vizcaya was originally signed by the Cleveland Guardians in 2012 as a teenager out of Venezuela back in 2012 and did not get out of rookie ball as he struggled mightily to throw strikes. But after spending a few years pitching outside of affiliated ball in Venezuela, Vizcaya latched back on with the Twins in 2019, and had a very strong season for their High-A and Double-A affiliates.
Surrendering only 51 hits that year in 74 innings out of the pen, and keeping free passes to a palatable 3.6 per 9 innings, Vizcaya would seem to have earned his keep on the backs of a stalwart 1.33 ERA.
Then came the widespread roster cuts across the minor leagues due to the pandemic in 2020, and Vizcaya was again on the outside looking in.
This time it’s the Mets who think Vizcaya still has the potential to pitch in a major league bullpen. In addition to the noted arm strength, notice how vertical his arm slot is in this clip of him pitching recently.
The Mets have signed right-hander Anthony Vizcaya.
The reliever last pitched in affiliated ball in 2019 with the Twins. He had a 0.78 ERA in Double-A that season.
He had a 2.05 ERA in winter ball this offseason.
— Michael Mayer (@mikemayer22) February 5, 2022
We can deduce from this that Vizcaya likely gets solid carry on his fastball, a trait that should allow him to bully hitters upstairs at the letters. Later in the clip, he also appears to pair his fastball with a hard slider with sharp vertical tilt, burying it in the dirt for the swinging strike.
We can likely expect to see Vizcaya open the 2022 season in the Triple-A Syracuse Mets bullpen and serve as depth outside of the 40-man roster. It will be one step closer for Vizcaya in his long and winding journey to make it to The Show.
