Nick Zwack, Photo by Ed Delany of MMN
The Mets’ minor league affiliates announced a flurry of roster moves on Monday, including promotions for two very promising young arms in Brendan Hardy and Nick Zwack.
Hardy, a right-handed relief prospect who was a 31st round draft pick back in 2018 out of Harrison Central HS, was promoted from the St. Lucie Mets to the Brooklyn Cyclones. He has posted a 1.08 ERA across six appearances (8 1/3 IP) this season, leading all Mets minor leaguers with a 51.5 K%.
Joining him in a promotion from St. Lucie to Brooklyn is left-handed starting pitching prospect Nick Zwack, a 17th round draft pick in 2021 out of Xavier University. Zwack has gone nine scoreless innings over his last two starts with St. Lucie, and he has recorded 24 strikeouts and only two walks across 12 2/3 innings of work.
Brendan Hardy, Photo by Ed Delany of MMN
St. Lucie made several corresponding moves to fill the holes left by Hardy and Zwack. They added shortstop Junior Tilien and right-handers Raimon Gómez, Trey McLoughlin, and Robert Colina to the active roster, transferred LHP Keyshawn Askew to the development list, and moved Gregory Guerrero to the Florida Complex League (FCL) Mets.
Mets right-handed relief prospect Brendan Hardy has been promoted to the Brooklyn Cyclones.
Hardy leads Mets minor leaguers with a 51.5 K%. He had a 1.08 ERA for the St. Lucie Mets.
Fastball up to 97 mph.
— Michael Mayer (@mikemayer22) May 2, 2022
Tilien is just 19 years old and posted a .165 average across 32 games with the FCL Mets in 2021. Colina had a 2.70 ERA across 23 1/3 innings pitched for the FCL Mets in 2021. Gomez has seen his fastball up to 100 mph.
Askew got off to an outstanding start with St. Lucie, posting a 1.13 ERA across 16 innings pitched, and is likely just getting a breather for a few games. Guerrero returns to the FCL Mets team he played for in 2021 after collecting just one hit in eight at-bats with St. Lucie.
The Binghamton Rumble Ponies also announced the additions of right-handed pitchers Josh Hejka, José Chacin, and David Griffin. All three pitchers have been excellent for the Brooklyn Cyclones this season. Hejka is a submariner who did not give up a single run in 7 2/3 innings of work, Chacin had a 1.53 ERA across 17 2/3 innings pitched, and Griffin had a 2.40 ERA across 15 innings pitched.
This trio of pitchers will take the places of infielder Branden Fryman, who was assigned to Brooklyn, and right-handers Justin Lasko and Kevin Gadea, who were transferred to the development list on Sunday. Fryman was hitting .120 with zero XBH across 25 plate appearances for the Rumble Ponies, while Lasko and Gadea were two relievers who were having rough seasons for a Rumble Ponies team that has struggled with pitching all year.
The lone Syracuse Mets roster move saw Yoan López return following another brief stint with the major league club. López was at the center of yet another controversy during the New York Mets’ game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday night, as he was deemed to have thrown intentionally at Kyle Schwarber. He was suspended for three games and subsequently optioned to Triple-A as the Mets roster was cut down from 28 to 26 players.
There will likely be more moves to come on Tuesday as all four of the Mets full season affiliates are back in action.
