Evaluating Spring Performance of Bullpen Candidates

As we get closer to the onset of the 2023 season, there will be more questions regarding the construction of the Opening Day roster. While it is still early, there have been several relievers that have emerged as potential candidates for the limited amount of spots left in the bullpen. These early performers include Sam Coonrod, John Curtiss, Bryce Montes de Oca, Grant Hartwig, and Jimmy Yacabonis.

First, Sam Coonrod, 30, has accumulated three scoreless innings with five strikeouts so far in spring training. Consequently, this strong performance has not gone unnoticed by the Mets coaches. In fact, MMO’s Jack Ramsey noted on Twitter that Mets’ skipper Buck Showalter specifically named Coonrod while discussing bullpen options that have impressed him so far in camp. While Coonrod has not achieved much at the MLB level with a career ERA of 5.27, his impressive spring could be the vehicle for him to gain more experience and thrive in a change of scenery.

Buck also named the aforementioned John Curtiss as someone who caught his eye during spring training. Curtiss, who will turn 30 soon, has pitched three scoreless innings with six strikeouts. I wrote an article about Curtiss several days ago, in which more information about the reliever can be found. To keep things brief, Curtiss has not missed a beat in his return from Tommy John Surgery and seems to be returning to his previous form. Out of all these options, he definitely has the most accomplished MLB track record, which could place him at an advantage in the eyes of the Mets’ staff.

Next, the hard-throwing Bryce Montes de Oca has struck out four in two innings in Grapefruit League games and pitched a 1-2-3 inning vs Venezuela on Thursday. Montes de Oca, 26, had a brief stint with the Mets last season, in which he only pitched 3 1/3 innings. As a result, he will look to gain more major league experience this season, and he is certainly making a solid case for that to happen with his solid performance so far.

101 mph with 21 inches of horizontal break from Bryce Montes de Oca to strike out one of the AL’s best players in 2022.

pic.twitter.com/uit3kLAFE4

— Michael Mayer (@mikemayer22) March 9, 2023

Additionally, his ability to throw a fastball that has reached triple digits in velocity provides him with a quality that can separate his resume from other candidates. However, it is important that he can control it as he has habitually struggled with walks during his professional career. Our own Colby Morris recently wrote about Monte de Oca’s arsenal which also includes a slider and cutter.

Grant Hartwig, 25, has pitched two innings in which he struck out three in spring games and pitched a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts against Venezuela on Thursday. Hartwig, a Miami University of Ohio product, has seen much success in his short minor league career, striking out 95 in 68 1/3 IP. Consequently, Hartwig has noticed an uptick in his velocity to start the spring, and he attributed that to a number of factors, most notably including help from the Mets, according to MMO’s Jack Ramsey on Twitter. If the Mets can continue to develop Hartwig into an effective bullpen option, they can greatly benefit from his contributions going forward. Mets Minors covered Hartwig in more detail recently.

Finally, Jimmy Yacabonis, who Buck Showalter is previously familiar with from time together in Baltimore, has pitched three scoreless innings with five strikeouts this spring. Yacabonis, 30, has been the victim of injuries and underperformance in his short MLB career. However, he now appears to be fully healthy and is working with a new slider grip that gives him more depth on the pitch, according to MMO’s Jack Ramsey on Twitter.

Overall, it is obviously still very early in spring training, and these strong numbers are subject to change as time goes on. Also, overreacting to spring training numbers, whether good or bad, is never a fully effective method of evaluating the ability of a player. That said, these five pitchers should stand out when the Mets are making their final decisions as to which players will make the cut for Opening Day.

One factor to keep in mind is whether or not a player is on the 40-man roster. Luckily for Coonrod, Curtiss, and Montes de Oca, they have spots on the 40-man roster. Inversely, Hartwig and Yacabonis are non-roster invitees, which may place them at a disadvantage when it comes time to make those difficult decisions as it would require the Mets to use a 40-man roster spot for them.

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