Mets Prospect Hub

Relief Pitchers

1. Joe Smith (Wright State 3-1, 0.98 era, 31 G, 13 SVs, 55 IP, 34 H, 16 BBs, 63 Ks, 0.91 WHIP, A- Brooklyn 0-1, 0.45 era, 17 G, 9 SVs, 20 IP, 10 H, 3 BBs, 28 Ks, 0.65 WHIP, AA Binghamton 0-2, 5.68 era, 10 G, 12.2 IP, 12 H, 11 BBs, 12 Ks, 1.82 WHIP)

Total 2006 Stats: 3-4, 1.54 era, 58 G, 22 SVs, 87.2 IP, 56 H, 30 BBs, 103 Ks, 0.98 WHIP

The leader of a rogue group of escaped military prisoners accused of a crime they didn’t commit…

Right, sorry. Putting my inner TV geek away now. Smith was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2006 draft out of Wright State, as one of the top college closers available. He put up 13 saves in 31 appearances, with a 0.98 era in 55 innings pitched. After drafting Smith, the Mets sent him to low A Brooklyn, where he dominated using a low 90s sinker (which hits 94), and an outstanding slider – both offered from a sidearm delivery. After 20 innings in Brooklyn, Smith joined AA Binghamton, bolstering the bullpen for their ill-fated playoff run. Smith served as one of Henry Owens’ setup men, and struggled (naturally, having jumped over 3 levels).

Smith's control can falter at times and like most sidearmers, he has real problems with the opposite side, as Double-A lefties went 10-for-20 against him.

Strengths: Smith is unique because he throws much harder than typical sidearmers, and his 89-91 mph fastball has sinking, fading action. It tops out at 94. He stays on top of an 81-83 mph, two-plane slider that destroys righthanders. They hit just .104 against him in pro ball.

Weaknesses: The key to Smith reaching his ceiling is his changeup. He never needed it in college, but he does in pro ball to keep advanced lefthanders honest. They went 10-for-20 (.500) against him in his brief Double-A stint.

The Future: If he can make his changeup an average pitch, Smith should be an excellent setup man. Without it, he'd be just a righthanded specialist. Chad Bradford filled that role for the Mets in 2006, and his departure could allow Smith to make the team at some point in his first full season. He'll probably open in Triple-A

2. German Marte (A Hagerstown 3-0, 2.58 era, 32 G, 4 SVs, 59.1 IP, 49 H, 20 BBs, 62 Ks, 1.16 WHIP, A- Brooklyn 2-0, 0.00 era, 9 G, 4 SVs, 9 IP, 7 H, 6 BBs, 6 Ks, 1.44 WHIP)

Total 2006 Stats: 5-0, 2.24 era, 41 G, 8 SVs, 68.1 IP, 56 H, 26 BBs, 68 Ks, 1.2 WHIP

Marte was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2002. He posted a 1.56 ERA for the 2003 DSL team, with 70 Ks in 75 IP, before coming stateside in 2004, where he got into 9 games, including 6 starts, for Kingsport, posting a 1-0 record with a 5.13 era. He also got into 4 games (2 starts) for the Gulf Coast League team, putting up a 1-0, 2.40 line in 15 innings. 2005 was split between Kingsport and Brooklyn, and 2006 between Hagerstown and Brooklyn.

I’d expect Marte to open 2007 in St. Lucie as a 22 year old, with a possibility of making the jump to Binghamton, and possibly end the season in New Orleans.

3. Brandon Nall (A Hagerstown 5-5, 2.91 era, 38 G, 86.2 IP, 69 H, 35 BBs, 88 Ks, 1.20 WHIP, AA Binghamton 0-0, 0.00 era, 2 G, 4 IP, H, BB, 4 Ks, 0.50 WHIP, AFL Mesa 1-0, 0.00 era, 2 G, 2 IP, H, BB, 1.00 WHIP)

Total 2006 Stats: 6-5, 2.72 era, 42 G, 92.2 IP, 71 H, 37 BBs, 92 Ks, 1.17 WHIP

Originally drafted by the Braves in 2002, Nall declined to sign and instead opted to go to LSU, where he missed the entirety of the 2003 and 2004 seasons recovering from a torn labrum. In 2005, he posted a 3-2 record with LSU, but a 5.18 era in 7 games (4 starts), spanning 24.1 innings. The Mets signed him as an undrafted free agent and sent him to Hagerstown, where he struggled, posting a 7.06 era in 12 games (2 starts).

2006 was a much better year for the righty, but he was old for his level. He will open 2007 in Binghamton, as a 25 year old, and should end the season in New Orleans.

4. Carlos Muniz (A+ St. Lucie 4-3, 3.08 era, 48 G, 31 SVs, 49.2 IP, 39 H, 18 BBs, 45 Ks, 1.15 WHIP)

Muniz was drafted in the 13th round of the 2003 draft out of Long Beach University, where as a senior, he was 0-2 with a 3.14 era in 26 games, converting 11 saves. He’s made a slow trek through the farm system, and last season was his best, however, it came as a 25 year old in the Florida State League. In 2007, he’ll need to go through Binghamton and end up in New Orleans, to not fall into the Henry Owens category.

5. Kevin Tomasiewicz (A Hagerstown 6-2, 2.60 era, 47 G, 19 SVs, 65.2 IP, 64 H, 13 BBs, 51 Ks, 1.17 WHIP, A+ St. Lucie 0-0, 9.00 era, 1 G, 1 SV, 2 IP, 2 H, BB, 4 Ks, 1.50 WHIP)

Total 2006 Stats: 6-2, 2.79 era, 48 G, 20 SVs, 67.2 IP, 66 H, 14 BBs, 55 Ks, 1.18 WHIP

Tomasiewicz is a lefty pitcher who the Mets drafted with their 26th round pick in 2005, out of the University of Wisconsin. He posted a 15-1 record with a 2.83 era in 20 games the year before the Mets drafted him. He started with Brooklyn, posting a 3-3 record with an ugly 5.62 era in 20 games (5 starts), while grabbing 3 saves. 2006 brought a promotion to Hagerstown, where Tomasiewicz blossomed. He should open 2007 as a 23 year old with St. Lucie, and possibly end it in Binghamton.