Relief Pitchers To Monitor During Spring Training

One of the more intriguing position groups to watch entering spring training is the bullpen. As we referenced in our article earlier today, citing Zack Britton as a potential option, the unit is getting closer and closer to becoming a complete. Though, given teams usually carry around seven-to-eight relief pitchers, a spot or two may still exist. For context, here is how the unit currently stacks up:

• Closer: Edwin Díaz
• Set-Up: David Robertson
• 7th-8th Inning: Adam Ottavino
• Middle Relief: Drew Smith
• Left-Handed Option: Brooks Raley
• Long-Relief/Spot-Starter: David Peterson / Joey Lucchesi / Elieser Hernández

This leaves one or two more spots to be filled. To potentially fill these roles, the Mets have a plethora of different internal options. Who are the seven potential guys to keep an eye on in spring training?

The Options:

Jeff Brigham

Brigham was acquired by the Mets from the Miami Marlins on November 18. The 31-year-old turned in a career year in 2022. He posted a 3.38 ERA to go along with sub-4.00 xERA, xFIP, and FIP. He also struck out 28 across 24 innings pitched.

If the slider/fastball pitcher can replicate the performance he turned in last year, he would be a nice way to round out the bullpen. Though, worth mentioning, before last season he only threw 55 2/3 major-league innings where he allowed 54 hits and 31 earned runs (5.05 ERA). Brigham has a 3.49 ERA across 485 1/3 minor-league innings.

Sam Coonrod

The Mets claimed the 30-year-old flamethrower off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies on February 6. The right-handed reliever has 97 1/3 major-league innings under his belt and on the surface the results have not been pretty. He owns a career 5.27 ERA, posting a 7.82 mark over 12 2/3 innings last season. Though, his career FIP of 4.42 indicates there may be a slightly better pitcher in there.

Coonrod blended a combination of five different pitches last year. His fastball sat at 97 MPH, he also has a sinker that reaches 96 and a fast slider at 93 MPH. It appears the velocity is there, though, it’ll be up to Jeremy Hefner and the Mets’ pitching staff to see if they can mold Coonrod into something productive for the Mets.

John Curtiss

Curtiss is one of the more intriguing options on this list. The Mets signed him on April 6 of 2022 knowing he would miss the 2022 season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He appears healthy and ready to fight for a spot in the major leagues this season.

Prior to injury, he spent 2020 with the Tampa Bay Rays and a majority of the 2021 season with the Miami Marlins. He excelled with each. In 2020, he posted a 1.80 ERA across 25 innings. Meanwhile, in 2021 he threw 40 innings with Miami posting a strong 2.48 ERA and 3.22 FIP. He was then injured and found his way to the Mets last off-season.

Like it is with any pitcher, it will be interesting to see how Curtiss looks post-Tommy John surgery. If the fastball/slider pitcher can regain the form he showed with Tampa Bay and Miami in 2020 and 2021, he may be a front-runner for one of the remaining spots.

Zach Greene

The Mets selected the 26-year-old from the New York Yankees in December’s Rule 5 Draft. He has yet to make a major-league debut, but has put up some intriguing numbers in the minor leagues.

Across 68 1/3 innings in Triple-A last season, Greene posted a 3.42 ERA. The aspect that catches the eye right away is his 12.6 SO9. The Florida native struck out 96 batters which was an absurd rate. He did struggle with walks at times (32), but the “stuff” is certainly there, as evident by that strikeout rate.

Greene also showed flashes in 2021 across High-A and Double-A ball. He posted a 3.17 ERA and 91 strikeouts across a cumulative 59 2/3 innings. Further evidence that his absurd strikeout rate from last season was not a fluke. If Jeremy Hefner and the Mets’ pitching staff can help eliminate the control issues, Greene may be a very intriguing piece.

Bryce Montes de Oca

Mets’ fans became familiar with the six-foot-seven flamethrower last season. De Oca appeared in five games and posted subpar numbers: 3 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 6 SO. Though, his success in 2022 across Double-A and Triple-A (3.86 ERA and 80 strikeouts across 51 1/3 innings) still paints a very intriguing picture.

As is the case with several up-and-coming pitchers, de Oca struggles with control. It does not seem like a simple fix either, as de Oca has always struggled with control and walks since day one. His walk rate in the minors during the 2022 season was a startling 6.7 per nine innings. This was an issue dating back to college as well.

Regardless, the tools are clearly there. He is just another guy who’s control will largely dictate if he is able to break spring training with the big club.

Stephen Nogosek

On the surface, the 28-year-old had a very strong season at the big-league level for New York last season. He ended up throwing 22 innings and posted a 2.45 ERA. However, his FIP of 4.66 and nearly 4.00 xERA indicates that the success may have been slightly over-exaggerated.

One thing for sure is last season he was very strong at the Triple-A level. He posted a 2.30 ERA across 43 innings with 53 strikeouts. Minor league success is something the former sixth-round pick has grown accustomed to, as his career 3.36 ERA indicates.

Given the surface success he showed last year, Nogosek may be one of the pitchers near the top of the list to capture a spot entering spring training. This for right or wrong.

Stephen Ridings

Ridings was claimed off waiver from the New York Yankees on November 15. The 27-year-old showed great promise before being sent down and subsequently injuring his shoulder which ended his 2021 early.

The aforementioned shoulder injury forced Ridings to miss all but two minor-league innings in 2022. He now appears to be fully healthy and will look to build on the immense success he had in 2021. During that season, Ridings posted a 0.47 ERA in 19 Double-A innings with 30 strikeouts. He then threw 10 innings in Triple-A posting a 2.70 ERA and 12 strike outs.

Ridings then got five innings at the MLB level. He allowed only one run and struck out seven. His FIP of 1.57 and subsequent 1.80 ERA both further demonstrated how impressive he was. Unfortunately, the shoulder injury occurred and he basically missed all of 2022. Certainly a name to keep a close eye on in spring training given the flashes he has shown in his young career.

Final Thoughts

For the first time in a long time the Mets have good reliever depth. It was reported on several occasions that general manager Billy Eppler valued flexibility and relievers with plenty of options. In doing so, he was able to bring in several players that fit that description, cheaply, that may be able to carve out roles at some point this season. Hopefully, one or two of the above seven are able to have a strong spring training and round out a, on paper, very strong Mets’ bullpen.

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