Mets Minors: Steven Matz allowed one run in 5.1 IP in Triple-A debut

By Danny Abriano
facebooktwitterreddit

Steven Matz made his Triple-A debut on Thursday night, allowing one run on three hits in 5.1 innings pitched for Las Vegas during their 2-1 loss at Fresno.

Matz, who threw 85 pitches (50 strikes), struck out four and walked three.

Matz struggled a bit with his command at times, but also flashed the plus fastball velocity and improving secondaries that have him shooting up top prospect rankings.

More from New York Mets News

The one run charged to Matz came after he departed in the sixth, and only scored because Dilson Herrera failed to complete what would’ve been a routine inning-ending double play.

After being promoted to Double-A Binghamton last season, the 23-year-old Matz posted a 2.27 ERA and 1.12 WHIP to go along with 8.71 K/9 and 1.77 BB/9 in 71.1 innings pitched (12 starts).

Thoughts:

There have been some people (Wally Backman to name one) who have suggested that Steven Matz is a better prospect than teammate Noah Syndergaard.

While Matz is an upper echelon prospect with top of the rotation upside, you’ll be hard pressed to find any reputable scouts or prospect publications who think he has higher upside than Syndergaard,

Still, not having the ceiling of Syndergaard isn’t something to be ashamed of, and Matz should be viewed at as one of the jewel’s of the organization.

The dream rotation for many Mets fans is Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Zack Wheeler, Syndergaard, and Matz, but with Wheeler out for the year, that potential rotation won’t have a chance to unite until 2016.

Although Wheeler being out is unfortunate for the Mets, his absence might pave the way for Matz to make his major league debut earlier than expected.

At present, there is no room in the rotation for Matz or Syndergaard (who should get the call first), but that will change if Dillon Gee is dealt now and/or if Bartolo Colon is dealt around midseason.

facebooktwitterreddit