5 Mets non-roster invitees who need every inning possible in spring training

Knowing the growing list of New York Mets non-roster invitees to St. Lucie this spring will help to better understand what’s going on in those early games. Who’s that running onto the mound wearing number 97? It’s a nearly-30-year-old 12th round draft pick who spent three years in the Independent Leagues.

As meaningless as a large portion of spring training is for some players, the non-roster invitees get their first true showcase for the coaching staff in live action. When the clock hits and the season begins, it’s these five current non-roster invitees who should get every inning possible to show what they can do.

1) Cole Sulser

On his way to his age 34 season, Cole Sulser brings with him to the Mets a lifetime ERA of 3.87 in the major leagues. Not too shabby. The problem is that outside of the 2021 season with the Baltimore Orioles, he hasn’t been consistent. Nearly the recipient of a World Series ring last year because of his 4 games pitched with the Arizona Diamondbacks, he spent more time in the minors pitching to a 5.55 ERA.

Sulser is a product of the Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays organizations where he has spent most of his professional seasons. Two franchises that pride themselves on developing pitching, Sulser just hasn’t been able to turn it into major league success outside of the one season in Baltimore.

He stands out a little more than some of the other non-roster invitees brought in because of his age and a remaining minor league option available. He’d fit in best as one of the rotational relievers whom the Mets can push back and forth between the majors and minors.

A two-time graduate of Tommy John surgery, it was a shoulder strain last year that limited his innings. As with many non-roster invitees, the expectations aren’t high. It’ll still come in handy to know exactly where Sulser falls on the pecking order.

2) Taylor Kohlwey

This could turn out to be one of the better minor league pickups by David Stearns this offseason. Taylor Kohlwey, a 29-year-old left-handed outfielder, has a pair of minor league options remaining. Since starting his professional career back in 2016, he has played in only 5 MLB games. They came last year and he singled twice in 13 at-bats for the San Diego Padres.

Despite the lack of MLB playing time, it’s his success in the minor leagues which should have us wondering if he can indeed contribute to the Mets as a fifth outfielder. His last four minor league seasons have all included a batting average ranging from .276-.311. He has reached double digit home runs in each of the last two seasons and finished with 70+ RBI.

Kohlwey’s most stand out numbers might come from his OBP. He walks a lot. He hasn’t had an OBP below .383 over the last four seasons and finished with his second-best in Triple-A last year at .390.

Kohlwey isn’t coming for anyone’s job permanently, but for a team that has lacked outfield depth in recent years and has three starters with some injury concerns, it’s a nice addition to have. The fact that he has minor league options could help even push him past veteran Trayce Thompson on the depth chart. We should see a lot of Kohlwey this spring.

3) Yacksel Rios

A bit more seasoned than many of the others on this list, it didn’t help much last year. Yacksel Rios had a 37.80 ERA last season in 1.2 frames for the Oakland Athletics. In 98.1 MLB innings, it rests at 6.32. Somehow he owns an 8-2 record. Go figure.

Rios did find some success last year in Triple-A with the Atlanta Braves, although it wasn’t enough for him to ever get promoted. In 25.1 innings for them, Rios posted a 2.49 ERA while taming his control a bit more than usual. He walked batters at a rate of 2.8 per 9 compared to the 10.7 strikeouts per 9 he had to go with it.

Hoping he’s someone Mets bullpen coach Jose Rosado can work with heavily this spring (the two know each other from Team Puerto Rico in the WBC), Rios is one of those hard-throwing righties whose control has been an issue throughout his career. Why give him innings in the spring? 

Rios lacks the minor league options which would make him a much more shoo-in to last the season. Far more likely to be a temporary option the Mets promote later in the season than needed, spring training games will at least answer if he’s a more immediate option or a Triple-A project.

5) Danny Young

Throw a baseball well left-handed and you’ll always be employed. It’s the best career advice anyone can offer. Danny Young has the left-handed part of it down. Now he just needs to continue to pitch well to avoid ever going hungry.

Now 29, Young impressed with the Atlanta Braves last season albeit across just 8.1 innings. His 1.08 ERA must’ve been an unexpected treat. He had a 6.32 ERA down in Triple-A.

The world will always need lefties on the mound. Young is in luck. The Mets don’t have a slew of lefties to choose from. One remaining minor league option can help him join the team several times throughout the campaign, too.

Young has spent most of his professional career as a reliever without ever putting up truly impressive totals over a long period of time. Other than being a temporary option for the Mets this year when they may need a southpaw in the bullpen, there isn’t a whole lot to get truly excited about unless, of course, somehow his success with the Braves in 2023 was for real.

Out of all of these players, Young may actually have the best shot at making the MLB roster to start the season. It really depends on the health of the other bullpen arms, specifically a guy like Brooks Raley. A closer look at Young in the spring will help determine if he’s even a favored option later in the season or if the Mets will pass right over and ask Nate Lavender for some outs.