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NY Mets: Three non-roster invitees to monitor during Spring Training

By Adrian Cervantes

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 04: Pitcher Arodys Vizcaino #38 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in an interleague MLB baseball game against the Atlanta Braves on July 4, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Yankees won 6-2. Both teams wore clothing and accessories to honor America during the Independence Day weekend games. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 04: Pitcher Arodys Vizcaino #38 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in an interleague MLB baseball game against the Atlanta Braves on July 4, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Yankees won 6-2. Both teams wore clothing and accessories to honor America during the Independence Day weekend games. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 05: Arodys Vizcaino #38 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the game against the Miami Marlins at SunTrust Park on April 05, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images) /

2) Reliever Arodys Vizcaino

The Mets currently have a hole in the bullpen after the loss of Seth Lugo for at least the first month of the season. While there a host of relievers that will be vying for a spot in the Mets bullpen this spring, one intriguing name is former Atlanta Braves closer Arodys Vizcaino.

The hard-throwing Vizcaino had signed with the Mets back in November to a Minor League deal. While it has been a struggle for Vizcaino to stay healthy throughout his career when he has taken the mound he has been regarded as one of the better relievers in baseball as evidence by his career 3.01 ERA.

The 30-year old reliever has not thrown a professional pitch since April 7th, 2019, as shortly after that appearance he would undergo surgery for a torn right labrum and a scar tissue clean-up in his throwing shoulder. There is no telling what kind of pitcher the Mets will have in camp this spring after Vizcaino underwent serious shoulder surgery, but it is exactly the type of low-risk high-reward move that could pay dividends should Vizcaino resemble the type of pitcher that carried a career 2.60 ERA against the Mets.

Vizcaino has long been known as a predominantly fastball first type of pitcher, which has on average topped out at 97 MPH throughout his career, to go along with his sinker that tops out around the same velocity. In some previous appearances throughout his career, his fastball velocity has reached as high as 101 MPH. Also in Vizcaino’s arsenal is a curveball and slider which he uses to compliment his fastball and a changeup that he very rarely throws.

While it’ll be tough to envision Vizcaino containing that same type of velocity after major shoulder surgery, he will be one of the more interesting arms to monitor this spring due to his previous track record as one of the better arms out of the bullpen in baseball. Should his previous level of performance return during games this spring, I would not be surprised to see Vizcaino as one of the final additions to the Mets bullpen.

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