New York Mets: The Disappointing Loss of Franklyn Kilome
The New York Mets announced that pitching prospect, Franklyn Kilome, will undergo Tommy-John surgery. This loss is disappointing as Kilome would have debuted in 2019.
The New York Mets announced disappointing news on Wednesday. Early in the afternoon, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reported that Franklyn Kilome, the club’s fifth-ranked prospect, will miss 2019 as he will undergo Tommy-John surgery. Kilome will become the fourth Mets’ pitching prospect to undergo Tommy-John surgery over the past two years.
The Mets acquired Kilome in the trade that sent Asdrubal Cabrera to the Philadelphia Phillies at 2018’s trade deadline. As a member of the Phillies, Kilome was known for his big arm and high walk numbers. The Phillies saw the tall righty average 4.5 walks per nine innings in 2018 and 3.7 walks per nine innings in 2017.
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These numbers dramatically improved once he was acquired by the Mets. In 7 starts at Double-A Binghamton, Kilome averaged 2.4 walks per nine innings and his strikeout rate rose from 7.3 to 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings. We also saw his WHIP drop from 1.44 to 1.07 as a member of the Amazins’.
These numbers made Kilome look like a steal as Asdrubal Cabrera will soon become a free agent. This news is particularly disappointing as Kilome looked to be on track to make his MLB debut in 2019.
Franklyn Kilome has an electric fastball and is developing a nasty curveball. MLB.com rates his fastball at 70/80 and his curveball at 55/80. If his other pitches don’t develop or the Mets’ “big four” block him from joining the starting rotation, a hard fastball and a good curveball immediately become a good base for a solid relief pitcher. Many pitchers have accomplished more with less.
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The New York Mets will now have to wait to see Franklyn Kilome. He has a valuable arm, but he will have to wait until 2020 to continue his development.