According to Mike Mayer of Metsmerized Online and Mets Minors, the New York Mets have signed right-handed pitcher Joseph Yabbour to a minor league deal.

Yabbour was originally signed by the Minnesota Twins in 2019 as a 16-year-old international free agent signing. Baseball America described Yabbour as the top pitcher the Twins added during the 2019-2020 signing period.

Back in 2019 when he was signed, Baseball America noted that Yabbour reached 91 mph on his fastball with inconsistent control, but by the end of the Dominican instructional league, he was touching 94 mph and was beginning to show better control of the pitch. Along with his fastball, he also mixed in a slider and a changeup. His slider was noted as having an ability to “miss bats.”

Yabbour never threw a pro pitch during his time with Minnesota and was released by the organization in 2022. In November of last year, the Seattle Mariners signed Yabbour to a minor league contract.

According to Fangraphs, Yabbour was ranked 31st in the Seattle Mariners system with a fastball that sits around 94-96 mph. and has topped 98 mph. While he hasn’t shown consistency yet with his release or his breaking ball, his arm strength makes him a player to keep an eye on.

In 2023 with Seattle, the 20-year-old was 2-0 with a 3.60 ERA in 12 games pitched in the Dominican Summer League. He gave up eight earned runs, walked 11, and struck out 28 in 20 innings pitched. He ended the year with a .176 AVG and a 1.20 WHIP.

Yabbour is the cousin of current Mets prospect Luisangel Acuña and the NL reigning MVP Ronald Acuña Jr.