No. 9 Thomas Szapucki, LHP
B/T: R/L  Age: 23 ( 6/12/1996)
Height: 6’2’’  Weight:  181 lbs
Acquired: Drafted in 5th round of 2015 MLB Amateur Draft (Palm Beach, FL)
ETA: 2021 Previous Rank: 8
2019 Stars: 3 levels, 1-3 , 2.63 ERA, 61.2 IP, 72 K, 26 BB, 10.5 So/9, 1.216 WHIP

Drafted in the fifth round of the 2015 MLB amateur draft out of William T. Dwyer High School of Palm Beach, Florida, Thomas Szapucki  was listed as a top 100 prospect by both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline in regards to his draft class. Committed to the University of Florida, the Mets were able to convince Szapucki to sign for $375,000, which was only $20,000 above his pick slot.

Upon joining the Mets in 2015, the organization was cautious with the left-hander due to his heavy high school work load. In three relief appearances. totaling two and a third innings he would surrender four runs.

The 2016 season saw Szapucki begin his year with Kingsport in rookie ball. His first real time in professional baseball would be a success as he would go on to dominate in Kingsport. Through 29 innings he would compile a 0.62 ERA with 47 strikeouts in comparison to only nine walks. With the organization convinced there was nothing more for Szapucki to prove in Kingsport he would receive a promotion to Brooklyn and A-ball.

His success would follow him north as he would put up a strong 2.35 ERA, this time striking out 39 batters vs giving up 11 walks through 23 innings pitched. When the season finished many outlets had Szapucki pegged as one of, if not the best pitching prospect in the Mets system.

With the Mets now considering Szapucki to be one of their headlining pitching prospects they decided to have him start the 2017 season in full season A-ball Columbia. Through his first six starts Szapucki showed no signs of failure to the challenge and put up a strong line consisting of a 2.79 ERA with 27 strikeouts through 29 innings. That would be the end of his season however as tightness in his left forearm would turn out to be a torn ulnar collateral ligament. With Tommy John surgery being the next logical step, Szapucki would miss the rest of the 2017 and 2018 seasons rehabbing.

With his rehab complete and ready to get back on to the field, Szapucki began the 2019 season back with Columbia pitching 21 2/3 successful innings before earning a promotion to St. Lucie in High A-ball. After a 36 inning, nine start stretch culminating in a 3.25 ERA and 42 strikeouts, he would receive another promotion, this time heading to Binghamton for Double A-ball. He would only make one start of four innings before the 2019 season would come to an end.

Szapucki features two plus pitches, a fastball and curveball, as well as a developing changeup. Prior to his TJS, Szapucki’s fastball would sit in the mid 90’s topping out around 96-97. His velocity has been down since his return, with a top speed of around 94, yet he and the Mets are all encouraged by the progress he has made so far and believe that a return to his prior velocity mark is inevitable.

While his injury and surgery had an effect on his fastball, the same can not be said about his curveball. Considered to be the one of the top breaking ball of his draft class, Szapucki throws a traditional curveball sitting in the low 80’s with high spin rate, that at times can leave the opposition looking foolish at the plate. His repertoire is rounded out by a changeup that while considered a work in progress, does show flashes of being a average to plus pitch that he uses against right-handers to keep them off balance.

The most noticeable aspect of Szapucki’s pitching profile is the three-quarters arm slot delivery that makes it hard for hitters to pick up the ball on. It also limits the opposition’s ability to lift the ball evidenced by the four total home runs he has given up through his 145 minor league innings. His ability to throw all three of his pitches from the same delivery point is part of what makes him so effective, even with his velocity only beginning to climb back up post-surgery.

The 2.63 ERA and 10.5 K/9 he posted in 2019 was enough to convince the Mets they should add the Rule 5 eligible Szapucki to the 40-man roster during the offseason.

It would be hard to imagine him making his way to Citi Field in 2020, yet if his velocity continues to climb back and his ability to get outs continues we could see him make his debut this year due to lack of starting pitching depth in the organization. A 2021 debut seems much more likely. I believe Szapucki beings the 2020 season in Double-A Binghamton, with a promotion to Triple-A Syracuse on the early horizon as he looks to put his name back into the conversation of who is the best Mets pitching prospect.

Previous Rankings

10 Josh Wolf – RHP, 11 Kevin Smith – LHP, 12 Franklyn Kilome – RHP, 13 Jordan Humphreys – RHP, 14 Junior Santos – RHP

15 Carlos Cortes – 2B, 16 Freddy Valdez – OF, 17 Adrian Hernandez – CF, 18 Dedniel Nunez – RHP 

19 Alexander Ramirez – OF, 20 Ali Sanchez – C, 25-21 Led by Jaylen Palmer, 30-26 Led by Ryley Gilliam