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Mets Top 30 Prospects for 2022: 30-29 Features Holderman and Schwartz

By Doug M

February 7, 2022 No comments

30. Colin Holderman, RHP

B/T: R/R
Age: 26 (10/8/1995)
Ht: 6’7  Wt: 240 LBS
Acquired: Mets 9th round pick, 2016 (Heartland CC)
ETA: 2022  Previous Rank: N/A
2021 Stats (Binghamton): 0-2, 3.38 ERA, 15 G, 2 GS, 5 SV, 24.0 IP, 1.000 WHIP, 3.0 BB/9, 10.1 K/9

Kicking off our top 30 prospects for 2022 is a name that is no stranger to fans of the Mets minor league system. Now coming on six years out of his draft summer and only 146.0 competitive innings later to show for it, Colin Holderman has endured plenty of injuries and hard work waiting for his chance to shine.

The Mets gave Holderman his chance this past fall when they made him part of their select contingent to participate in the Arizona Fall League. While there, Holderman did struggle uncharacteristically with his control, walking a batter per inning in his limited 10.1 inning sample. But the large-framed right-hander did show off the power arsenal that still warrants his placement on this list.

Holderman works downhill from a high 3/4 slot, getting good extension and natural sink on his fastball, which is now sitting 96-97 and peaking at 99 mph. This is serious arm strength from a big man, and though his fastball does not offer the spin or approach angle traits that would abet the missing of bats, the effective velocity achieved through plus extension is truly significant.

Holderman works primarily with a four-seam grip, and occasionally mixes in a true two-seam sinker that gets a little bit more running action. He is generally able to sync his pitching motion and release point consistently, especially for his size. The result is roughly average command of all his pitches, which includes an intriguing combination of a hard slider and a firm changeup.

Holderman’s slider comes in at 86-87 mph and features primarily vertical action, serving as a primary glove-side swing and miss weapon. He also throws his changeup in this same velocity band and gets significant arm-side run on the pitch that elicits it’s own fair share of swing and miss, as you can see from this montage from the fall.

While Holderman was not added to the Mets 40-man roster in December and will be vulnerable in the next Rule 5 draft, he has one of the more powerful arsenals in the upper levels of the Mets system.

Holderman will likely be tasked to start his 2022 season at Triple-A Syracuse and continue to hone his strike-throwing consistency. It remains to be seen whether the Mets seek to stretch Holderman out as starting pitching depth, or if a permanent transition to a relief role is on the horizon.

Either way, the Mets have had their eye on Holderman for a long time now, and hope that 2022 is the year that pays big dividends for the big right-hander.

While the 2022 season arrives with far less travel on the tires of our next prospect, there is likewise plenty of intrigue to see where the next installment of his journey can bring him.

JT Schwartz, Photo by Ed Delany of MMN

29. JT Schwartz, 1B

B/T: L/R
Age: 22 (12/17/1999)
Ht: 6’4  Wt: 215 LBS
Acquired: Mets 4th round pick, 2021 (UCLA)
ETA: 2025  Previous Rank: N/A
2021 Stats (St. Lucie): 25 G, 100 PA, 9 R, 16 H, .195/.320/.256, 5 2B, 8 RBI, 2 SB

When the Mets took what appears to be a prospect with a likely first base only fit defensively in the fourth round last year, you knew they loved his ability to hit.

After all, the tall and lanky Schwartz had just demolished PAC-12 pitching all spring at UCLA to the tune of a gaudy .396/.514/.628 slash line. With Schwartz, both the eyeball evaluation and advanced data back up the excitement about this 22-year-old’s future in the box.

With a simple and quiet hand load and great balance over his front side, Schwartz’s swing and approach exude the hitterish traits of an old-school model of first baseman. Not quite a slugger, Schwartz combines excellent strike zone coverage with an excellent eye at the plate, garnering healthy contact and walk rates throughout his career to this point.

Whether Schwartz stays primarily at first base or eventually dabbles with some corner outfield utility, he is ultimately going to have to impact the baseball significantly. Not only do his surface stats at UCLA indicate the potential to do just that, but so does this more advanced look at his quality of contact.

While Schwartz’s offensive production against his first taste of Low-A pitching was suppressed by a minimal .222 BABIP, he continued to draw walks at a healthy 13% clip. Without question, the quest for Schwartz moving ahead will be to hit the ball in the air with backspin as often as possible, optimizing the chances for extra-base damage. If he can hunt the right pitches to accomplish this with, while not compromising his ability to stay short to the ball and stay selective in his swing decisions, there is room for significant offensive ceiling.

We should look for these developments as Schwartz will get every day at bats when he likely opens the 2022 season as the St. Lucie Mets primary first baseman.

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Written by Doug M

My fate to bleed the blue and orange for life was laid out before me in 1997. My first Mets prospect I remember getting pumped up about was David Wright, as he just tore through the FSL and Eastern League with ease. Since then, my interest in minor league development has only grown. I hope to grow that interest further here at Mets Minors.

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