Keith Law: Noah Syndergaard’s Injury Risk As Low As Any Impact Pitching Prospect

According to Keith Law of ESPN, Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard should have health on his side as he continues his career.  Said law during today’s chat on ESPN:

"[Syndergaard] has to be as low a risk for an arm injury as any major starter prospect in baseball."

Law, a scout by trade who used to work in the front office for the Blue Jays, is now a senior writer for ESPN.

The statement regarding Syndergaard’s low risk of injury was given in the same answer where Law noted that he’d choose Syndergaard over Blue Jays pitching prospect Aaron Sanchez.  Prior to 2013, Law preferred Sanchez.

Jul 14, 2013; Flushing , NY, USA; USA pitcher Noah Syndergaard throws a pitch during the first inning of the 2013 All Star Futures Game at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Syndergaard is 6′ 6″, and has very clean and consistent mechanics.  He works off a fastball that touches the upper 90’s, a hammer curve, and a developing changeup.

Thoughts:

Syndergaard, a 21 year old right hander who finished the 2013 campaign with Double-A Binghamton, is viewed as one of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball.

Earlier this off-season, he was ranked by Baseball America as the best starting pitching prospect in both the Florida State League (where he pitched for High-A St. Lucie) and the Eastern League (where he pitched for Double-A Binghamton).

It’s great that he’s viewed as such a low injury risk, but as we saw last season with Matt Harvey, health is never a guarantee.  Still, it’s certainly comforting that Syndergaard is viewed as a pitcher who should hold up over the long haul.

Sandy Alderson noted toward the end of the season that Syndergaard has a chance to begin 2014 in the rotation with the Mets.  It’s far more likely, though, that Syndergaard opens the season with Triple-A Las Vegas before making his major league debut in June or July.

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