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New York Mets Top 10 Prospects For 2017

By Benjamin Chase

Feb 23, 2015; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; A view of the ball bag during spring training at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2015; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; A view of the ball bag during spring training at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports /
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10. Thomas Szapucki, LHP

Birthdate: 6/12/96 (20 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: rookie, short season A
Stats in 2016: 52 IP, 1.38 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 9.76 BB%, 41.95 K%

Last year’s 5th round selection was viewed as a solid lottery ticket as a high school lefty. He chose to sign rather than attend the pitching factory that is the University of Florida.

Szapucki made that look like a bargain pick for the Mets with his performance in 2016. He came out and dominated the Appalachian League for 5 starts before being bumped up to the New York-Penn League for 4 starts to finish his season.

Szapucki works with a fastball/curve combination that is absolutely incredible to watch work against hitters

Szapucki works with a fastball/curve combination that is absolutely incredible to watch work against hitters. He gets tremendous movmeent on the mid-90s fastball and then his curve showed to be a power curve, with tremendous depth that seems to drop multiple planes in its last few feet before it gets to the plate.

Szapucki is not just a two-pitch guy with a solid change that he showed much more feel for in 2016.

Szapucki has a bit of a herky-jerky delivery that could be a rough thing on his arm health going forward, and scouts are a bit worried about this in projecting Szapucki as a starter.

He’ll make his move to full-season ball in 2017.

Next: #9

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