Struggling former NY Mets prospect left unprotected starts against his old team today

The Spring Breakout Game may be over but familiar names from top New York Mets prospect lists are going to remain front of mind. On Monday when the Mets host the Tampa Bay Rays, the opposing pitcher will be a guy many believed not so long ago would be competing this spring for a rotation spot.

The Rays have named Mike Vasil as their starting pitcher. An 8th round pick who excelled in the minor leagues briefly became a fan-favorite amongst many who, maybe by default, crowned him the next big pitching prospect. Blame it on a lack of other choices because even in hindsight the results weren’t spectacular.

Nor have they gone so well this year with the Rays. The Mets left him unprotected in December’s Rule 5 Draft only for Vasil to get picked up by the Philadelphia Phillies and immediately traded to the Rays. He’ll go into this start against the Mets in what could be a final act before the Rays make a decision on his fate.

Former Mets prospect Mike Vasil could be headed back after all

Although he spent a few hours or even minutes with the Phillies (who’s counting?), the Mets are the ones who’d have a chance to add Vasil back to the organization if he doesn’t make the Opening day roster for Tampa Bay. The Rule 5 Draft requires players to stay on the 26-man roster for a full season. The Rays, who selected Nate Lavender from the Mets, have him stashed on the IL for the time-being, delaying any sort of return to the Mets. New York would have to pay $50,000 in order to receive Vasil back, which if they chose not to would be an indictment on how they really feel.

Things have gone poorly for Vasil who is now 0-1 with an 8.22 ERA. He has given up 7 earned runs and 12 hits in 7.2 innings of work. The early impression isn’t what the Rays were hoping to get out of him. But a glance at his numbers at the Triple-A level suggest this could be a case of a prospect reaching his ceiling.

Vasil was 4-4- with a 5.30 ERA in 16 starts in Triple-A at the end of the 2023 season. No bother. He had risen quickly and many youngsters hit the same wall. However, in a full year with Syracuse in 2024, Vasil was 8-10 with a 6.04 ERA. His strikeouts fell to an alarming 7.3 per 9. At every stop along the way in his professional career he had always been at 9.5 per 9 or better.

Knock Vasil around enough in this start and the Rays could go into “we’ve seen enough” mode. The unique way in which they use pitchers, the opener being the most familiar, can provide a little more leeway for a young pitcher with promise. There does come a point where there’s no other choice but to move on. Red flags are waving and if the Rays have any intentions on contending, offering him back to the Mets appears likely.