No. 17 Adam Oller, RHP

B/T: R/R
Age: 27 (10/17/94)
Ht: 6’4  Wt: 225 LBS
Acquired: Rule 5 Draft, Minor League Phase (12/12/2019)
ETA: 2022  Previous Rank: N/A
2021 Stats (Binghamton/Syracuse): 9-4, 3.45 ERA, 23 G, 120.0 IP, 1.167 WHIP, 3.5 BB/9, 10.4 K/9

A true definition of a journeyman, Adam Oller had waited a long time to have the career year that he produced in 2021. The then 26-year old not only just survived in the Mets Minor League system, he thrived.

Spending time with both Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse, he led all pitchers in the Mets system with 138 strikeouts, put up a 3.45 ERA, and by seasons end, was named the organizations Minor League Pitcher of the year. The Mets were so impressed with Oller’s performance that they added him to their 40-man roster, thereby protecting him from the Rule 5 draft.

https://twitter.com/MetsFarmReport/status/1444015347636613120

Oller’s long road to being on the doorstep of a Major League promotion began six years ago when he was drafted in the 20th Round of the 2016 Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. After 3 rough seasons in the Pirates system and never making it higher than Single-A, Pittsburgh released him and Oller considered giving up on baseball and retiring at 24.

Instead, the following season, he found himself in Independent Ball playing for the Windy City Thunderbolts of the Frontier League. In four starts with the Thunderbolts, Oller dominated striking out 45 with an impressive K/9 ratio of 15.0 and an ERA of just 0.67. That was enough to get Oller back into professional baseball again when the San Francisco Giants signed him and he was assigned to Single-A Augusta.

After going 5-6 with an ERA of 4.02 during his abbreviated stint with Augusta, the Giants left Oller exposed, and the Mets claimed him in the Minor League phase of the 2019 Rule 5 Draft. The Mets had assigned Oller to Double-A Binghamton to begin the 2020 season, but then COVID would of course cancel the entire MiLB season.

In May, Oller finally made his Mets debut with Double-A Binghamton. During his three months with the Rumble Ponies, Oller didn’t exactly set the world on fire, going 5-3 with a 4.03 ERA. He did have have his strikeout pitch working though, striking out 95 batters and posting an imposing K/9 ratio of 11.3. This was enough to earn him a promotion to Triple-A Syracuse in the middle of August.

Oller made a great first impression when he arrived in Syracuse. He struck out a career best 13 in his Triple-A debut on August 14th against Worchester. That was just the beginning for Oller as during his time with the Syracuse Mets, Oller had the best numbers of his career to date. In 44 innings, Oller had a 4-1 record with 43 strikeouts keeping his K/9 ratio at an impressive 8.8. He also had a strong ERA and WHIP of 2.45 and 1.02 respectively.

Adam Oller’s Triple-A debut was one for the ages.

The @mets prospect fanned a career-best 13 over 6 2/3 scoreless innings for the @SyracuseMets. pic.twitter.com/pJCIe7mXmd

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) August 14, 2021

Oller’s impressive strikeout numbers, which he’s had throughout his Minor League career can be credited in large part to his breaking ball pitches, especially his slider. Coming out of college at Northwestern, like most college pitchers Oller relied primarily on his curveball as his breaking ball pitch.

However, the Pirates made him work on his slider as well once he was drafted. While his fastball ranging from 92-95mph isn’t going to be lighting up radar guns, he has a nice selection of breaking pitches which will keep many hitters off balance, especially if they go chasing his slider.

Oller has had to work for everything he’s earned over his entire career. A true grinder, Oller now stands just one promotion away from finally reaching the Major League level. If he continues to improve as he did in 2021, Oller won’t only just be a feel good story if he is called up by the Mets, he could be a strong assist to the team as a back end of the rotation starter.

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