Mike Vasil, Photo by Rick Nelson
Tim Healey of Newday reports the New York Mets will promote right-handed starting pitcher Mike Vasil to Triple-A Syracuse.
Vasil, 23, was the Mets 2021 eighth round draft pick out of the University of Virginia. Entering the 2023 season, he was rated by MMN as the ninth overall prospect in the Mets farm system.
Currently, MMN‘s own Michael Mayer has Vasil rated as the Mets top pitching prospect. Before the season, Mayer had predicted Vasil was going to make his Major League debut this season. This promotion puts him one step closer to the majors.
So far this season, Vasil has made 10 starts for Double-A Binghamton. He was 1-2 with a 3.71 ERA, 0.843 WHIP, 1.4 BB/9, and a 10.1 K/9. Behind those numbers are some very promising data.
Mike Vasil had the 5th highest K/BB% (24.9%) of qualified pitchers in AA and the lowest WHIP (0.84)
Pair a near 30% K% with a miniscule 4.1% BB% and that is a recipe for success
Well deserved promotion to AAA#LGM https://t.co/SYAtPQN4pO pic.twitter.com/LV0tKb69Rn
— Prospect Tilt (@Prospect_Tilt) June 12, 2023
As noted by Propsect Tilt, Vasil had among the best control in Double-A this season. He has posted the best WHIP with the fifth best K/BB. Overall, he is striking out 30% of the batters he is facing while only walking 4.1%.
Here Is Mike Vasil striking out Top 100 prospect Drew Romo.
His 32.7 K-BB% is 2nd among 72 minor league pitchers with at least 30 innings pitched. pic.twitter.com/BC2yNAkAcd
— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) May 12, 2023
Vasil is able to generate the high strikeout rate due to a number of factors. He pitches in the mid 90s and has a high spin fastball. In fact, Vasil combines that with a high spin slider. While his previous change was not working for him, the split change he has developed has become a real swing-and-miss pitch.
For those who remember back to spring training, Vasil struck out Matt Olson on three pitches. Vasil used his split change to put away Olson. He also struck out Ronald Acuña Jr. and Eddie Rosario that inning. Seeing how he was able to strike out major leaguers with his repertoire, it is no surprise he has been able to strike out a high rate of batters in Double-A this season.
As alluded to earlier, having Vasil in Triple-A puts him on the cusp of a call-up to the majors. At the moment, the Mets starting pitching has been struggling, and even with José Quintana working his way back, the Mets may still need another starter. In the second half of the season, that pitcher just might be Vasil.
