Photo by Ed Delany, MMN
On Friday, Binghamton, Brooklyn, and St. Lucie will begin their seasons on the road. MMN’s own Michael Mayer reports the New York Mets have selected those affiliates Opening Day starters:
Mets Minors Opening Day starters on Friday:
AA Binghamton – Jose Butto
High-A Brooklyn – Junior Santos
Low-A St. Lucie – Keyshawn Askew (piggyback by Nick Zwack)Triple-A Syracuse has already played two games.
— Michael Mayer (@mikemayer22) April 7, 2022
Jose Butto was added to the Mets 40 man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft (which did not happen, and he was rated as MMN’s 11th ranked prospect. He split last season between Brooklyn and Binghamton. In 20 starts, he was 4-6 with a 3.83 ERA, 1.095 WHIP, 2.19 BB/9, and a 10.03 K/9.
https://twitter.com/MetsFarmReport/status/1426973805482741762?s=20
Butto throws a low-90s high spin fastball which has a high spin rate. He combines it with what may be the best change in the Mets minor league system and a still in progress curve.
Junior Santos gets the nod for Brooklyn after having a relatively tough year with St. Lucie. In 16 starts and five relief appearances, Santos was 6-6 with a 4.59 ERA, 1.521 WHIP, 3.56 BB/9, and a 7.41 K/9. He was rated as MMN‘s 21st ranked prospect in the Mets farm system.
https://twitter.com/AnthonyDiComo/status/1495874076727984136?s=20&t=4AdZT2SCspmnFt3sUgHYNg
Santos has a mid-90s fastball which tops out around 97 MPH which has sinking action. He combines that with a gyro-slider and a change which does not have much movement but does provide a near 10 MPH difference off his fastball. While he may not generate the strikeouts you’d believe he could with his stuff, he does keep the ball on the ground.
Finally, Keyshawn Askew will get the start for St. Lucie in front of Nick Zwack. Askew was profiled by MMN during Spring Training as he was hitting 96 MPH with his fastball with a delivery from an unusual arm slot. Askew could rise quickly through the Mets farm system as a reliever, but we have previously seen left-handed pitchers succeed at the Major League level with a similar delivery to Askew:
Mets drafted left-hander Keyshawn Askew in the 10th round last year.
He was up to 96 mph in the complex league after signing. As you can see, he throws from an unusual arm slot.
Video via @MetsFarmReport pic.twitter.com/dlMr3gD7Ly
— Michael Mayer (@mikemayer22) March 9, 2022
Askew only made four appearances pitching nine innings after he was the Mets 2021 10th round draft pick out of Clemson. He picked up two wins while allowing just one earned on three hits and four walks while striking out 14 batters.
Zwack will piggyback Askew’s start which would indicate St. Lucie won’t have either pitcher pitching more than four innings and most likely closer to 2-3 innings. Zwack was the Mets 17th round draft pick in the 2021 draft out of Xavier.
The left-handed pitcher mixes a low-90s fastball with a low-80s slider. Both pitches have good spin rates. In five appearances with St. Lucie last season, he was 1-0, with a 0.00 ERA, 1.143 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9, and a 16.7 K/9.
