May
21
2012

How Young And Mejia Factor In Mets Starting Rotation Plans

An article by Dan Valis

Right now the starting pitching options are limited as the Mets look to fill the void left by Mike Pelfrey. Who would have thought we would miss Mike Pelfrey so much? Anyway, things don’t look great right now as Miguel Batista is on the DL, and Jeremy Hefner leaves you little to get excited about. But it appears things will drastically change in the coming weeks as some arms are on the way which will quickly change the landscape of the starting rotation.

We all know about Chris Young who is on the road back and is currently on a rehab assignment. He may be the first one back to get a shot at the open rotation spot, and if he is it will be a great improvement over what we have seen so far. Young has always been a very good pitcher when he is on the mound, it’s just the fact that he is always on the DL instead. I was very critical of the Mets bringing him back this season because I just didn’t see the point at the time. I wanted to bring in some other guys who weren’t injury prone, but I guess I can just eat my words now. I will just be happy he is returning so I don’t have to see the junk we have had to see man the 5^th spot over the past few weeks.

Aside from Chris Young there is a much more exiting option on the horizon. His name is Jenrry Mejia, remember him? To be honest I had really forgotten about him, not really, but I was not counting on him as an option to be a possible starter this season in the Majors.

Thankfully I was wrong and the Mets brass were waiting and hoping he would be the first of the young talented arms to get a shot. He is still rehabbing from Tommy John Surgery, but all reports are that the 22-year-old is way ahead of schedule.

Mejia has made 3 starts during his rehab so far and has really impressed. He has been clocked anywhere from 91-95 with his fastball. So far in his 14 innings he has pitched to a tidy 2.57 ERA along with 11 strikeouts.

The Mets plan to evaluate Mejia after 4-6 rehab starts to see he can contribute to the Major League Club as a starting pitcher, although many still believe his future will be as a reliever.

I can’t wait to see him back in action, and I am hopeful that he can return before Chris Young does. I want to see the kids pitch. What are your thoughts?

About the Author: Dan Valis

I am a staff writer for Mets Merized Online. I am a Mets team analyst with a focus on the minor league system, as well as the major league club. I am a lifelong New Yorker who was born and raised to be a Mets fan. The ups and downs of being a Mets fan is what makes following this team so much fun, but at times so frustrating. You can follow me on Twitter @BgAppleMetsTalk.

10 Comments + Add Comment

Bob L May 21, 2012 at 2:14 pm

Just fyi, but MetsBlog is saying that Terry Collins commented that if Mejia is brought up this year, he’ll be in the pen. IF that’s the decision, i disagree. That said, sounds like (reading MMO) that Mejia needs more starts to get his command down…
- any May 21, 2012 at 2:31 pm
  
  depends on when. since this is a rehab year, if he stays down until that is done and gets his development time (and innings) in the minors, and is deemed ready to go, then having him come up to help in the pen is fine for this season. I actually support the idea of breaking in guys that are ultimately going to be SPs through the pen, especially if they need to limit his pitch count a bit this year.
  
  so beef up the pen later int he year, then fight for a rotation spot next spring.
  
  the key though is having it be that going into the pen only means for THIS year, not forever (and that sounds like what Terry is saying) Should not hurt his development at all (heck, cold easily help it), and less chance of over working his arm.
  
  still should be a moot point for a while until he gets some regular starts in AAA, and proves that he is fully ready to go, health wise and stuff wise (don’t forget, he was not a completely finished product before he went down).
any May 21, 2012 at 2:33 pm

getting young up makes sense, but Mejia should be in the same category as Harvey, Wheeler, Familia. With the added caveat of being 100% medically clears (so under no restrictions related to rehab).

Go in the MiL rotation with a clear plan of what they need to master, and don’t come up to start until they have. If that is this year, great. Next year, so be it.
- Bob L May 21, 2012 at 2:50 pm
  
  Okay, i guess they won’t overuse him in the pen. yeah, i agree, only for this year. IF he’s healthy, this kid has potential equal to our other 3 stud prospects.
  i like Young in the rotation also.
DaveUpstateNY May 21, 2012 at 6:13 pm

“…things will drastically change in the coming weeks.”

REALLY? Because Chris Young and Jenrry Mejia might be coming up? Yeah, that’s drastic, all right. We have no idea how effective Young will be. We have no idea how good Mejia is or even might be. He wasn’t that good when he first came up, and although he has great promise, let’s not call it a drastic change.
sarge69 May 22, 2012 at 12:37 am

I have no issue with him pitching out of BP if Young is the answer for the next month or so but pitching out of BP will allow Mejia to work out of stressful situations that he might encounter as a starter making his removal from games less and less likely because of his learning how to manage an inning as a reliever.

Or, I say let him stay in minors to continue to rehab, build up his arm, his stamina and then if Young falters then you have that option taking into account that he has limited innings coming off of TJ surgery so it might be a win, win for Mets w/Harvey and Familia and Beato on the way.
Matt May 22, 2012 at 8:05 am

You guys realize Chris Young will make two starts before getting hurt, right?
- Douglas May 22, 2012 at 10:59 pm
  
  Matt is probably right but what a pitcher he could be only if?
Amazin May 22, 2012 at 8:13 am

You’ll be eating your words because Chris Young is throwing in the minors??????? Maybe you should wait and see if he pitches more than 4 big league games before you eat your words.
Douglas May 22, 2012 at 10:57 pm

How about letting them both try to start can it be all that bad after what we have right now.

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