Mets

Mets 40-Man Roster Overview: Gerson Bautista

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New York Mets’ Gerson Bautista features a mid-90s fastball, which can get into the high-90s, a slider and a splitter that evolved from a change up. Bautista has had command issues and his injury history makes him a high risk/high reward prospect for the Mets.

Bautista Suspension:

After signing with the Red Sox as an international free agent in 2013 he was suspended that year after testing positive for metabolites of Stanozolol.

In 2014, Bautista debuted with the Red Sox Dominican Summer League team where he posted an ERA of 1.03 in 63 innings. In ’15, Bautista went to the Guld Coast League where he had a 2.77 ERA in 52 innings.

After being used as a starting pitcher in 2014 and 2015, the Red Sox decided to permanently move Bautista to the bullpen in 2016.

He continued to progress nicely as he put up a 2.55 ERA in 35.1 innings in Low-A and Mid-A ball. In the first half 2017, Bautista regressed in High-A ball, he had a 5.16 ERA in 45.1 innings and walked 28 batters. When Bautista arrived to the St. Lucie Mets he found his was again and only gave up 2 earned runs in 14.1 innings.

He expects to spend another year in St. Lucie and will move up to the Double-A Rumble Ponies if he continues to improve his command and limit his walks. Spending time around Jeurys Familia and A.J. Ramos will be a good influence on the 22-year-old prospect.

Mets 40-Man Roster Overview: Jamie Callahan

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Callahan got some brief experience with the Mets in 2017 where he pitched 6.2 innings and had a 4.05 ERA. Callahan has a good frame at 6’ 2” and 230 pounds. He can throw up to four pitches (fastball, splitter, cutter, curve) and his fastball can get into the high 90s.
He was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the second round of the 2012 MLB Draft and pitched in five games for the Gulf Coast Red Sox that same year. Callahan spent the 2013 and 2014 seasons as a starting pitcher in Low-A and Regular-A ball as starter but was not successful and moved to the bullpen in 2015.
In 2015, Callahan remained in Regular-A ball and saw better results as his ERA fell from 6.96 to 4.53. 2016 was a breakout year for Callahan, posting a 3.29 ERA at High-A ball and earned himself a spot on the Red Sox Double-A team in 2017. He had a nice 1.08 ERA in 10 games before his quick call-up to Triple-A in May where he had a 4.03 ERA before being traded to the Mets.
After the trade Callahan had a 1.80 ERA with the Las Vegas 51s and then joined the Mets as a September call-up. Callahan figures to be in the mix for a bullpen spot in Spring Training, but the Mets may want him to spend more time in the minors. He is currently ranked #28 on the Mets top 30 prospects and can potentially be an important middle reliever for the Mets.

 

New York Mets 40-Man Roster Overview: Jeurys Familia

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New York Mets, Jeurys Familia

In 2007 the Mets signed him out of the Dominican Republic for $100,000. After spending five years in the minor leagues as a starter the Mets moved him to the bullpen to be a reliever after the 2012 season. In 2013, Familia had an opportunity with the Mets in April but only pitched in eight games before a bicep injury in his throwing arm sidelined him for all but one game he pitched in September.

Familia broke out in 2014 as the Mets set-up man to another starter converted to a reliever in Jenrry Mejia and had a 2.21 ERA. The Mets thought their bullpen was set in 2015 but an opening day injury to Mejia and a suspension led to Familia becoming the Mets closer. He had 43 saves en route to a terrific postseason that led the Mets to the World Series. An Alex Gordon home run and fielding blunders put a damper on his brilliant season in the World Series.

Familia was an all-star in 2016 and led the MLB with 51 saves but once again a home run in the Wild Card game against the Giants was a tragic end to his season. In the offseason a domestic violence case led to a 15-game suspension to start the 2017 season and it was beginning to a season where Familia never found his footing.

Familia was sidelined with an arterial clot in his right shoulder and underwent surgery to remove the blockage. Familia returned on August 25 and struggled to regain the success he had but finished the season on a good note with three saves and a win to end his season.

Read about Jamie Callahan in our last overview here
Manager Mickey Callaway had talked about not having a set closer and pitching the best pitcher at the given situation but all signs point to the closer job being Familia’s to lose. Using the offseason to rest and clear his mind going to Spring Training should allow him to return to the dominant closer he was and if the Mets want to contend he will need to return to his all-star form.