Jun
23
2012

Mets Pitching Prospect Luis Mateo Gets Props From Baseball America

An article by Craig Lerner

Nobody made the Baseball America Hot Sheet this past week, but right-handed pitching prospect Luis Mateo id get an honorable mention, and rightfully so I may add.

Luis Mateo, rhp, Mets: In the international scouting community, Mateo is far from an unknown. The Giants signed him for $625,000 four years ago, but voided his contract when they found bone chips in his elbow. Then in November 2008, the Padres signed him for $300,000, but that deal fell apart due to MLB’s investigation into his background, which eventually revealed that Mateo had falsely shaved two years off his age. After serving a suspension, Mateo finally signed with the Mets last year for $150,000, then went out and dominated the Dominican Summer League. In his U.S. debut on Tuesday for short-season Brooklyn, Mateo struck out nine with one walk, two hits and one run allowed in 5 2/ 3 innings. The 22-year-old Mateo had anything but a typical development path, but his size (6-foot-3, 200 pounds) and stuff are promising, with a 91-94 mph fastball that touches a few ticks higher, along with a power slider and an occasional changeup.

Last season for the DSL Mets, Mateo, averaged 10.8 strike-outs per nine innings in what was his first season of pro ball. He’s a legit prospect who knows how to pitch and scouts say he’s fearless on the mound. The Mets may have gotten lucking getting Mateo for as little as they did, as both San Diego and San Francisco loved his promise and offered far more before circumstances with his age and elbow made them back off.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Mateo finds himself in Savannah before season’s end, especially if he has 3-4 more dominating starts like he did last week for the Cyclones.

About the Author: Craig Lerner

I'm a data analyst and researcher for a leading news agency who loves life and is hooked on the Mets. I love following the Amateur Draft and have a particular fondness for the Mets Minor Leagues who I follow each day. Give me a cold beer, a summer day, and a Mets game, and I'm good to go.

7 Comments + Add Comment

any June 23, 2012 at 11:05 am

nail down the change up, or perfect a cutter, and he could move up fast as a SP. But as described, sounds like an ideal closer.
- Metsie June 23, 2012 at 11:20 am
  
  What we need is a left handed closer to compliment the RH Francisco.
  
  Look at all our WS teams and they all had both a righty and a lefty who could close a game!
  - any June 23, 2012 at 11:26 am
    
    not going to be an easy thing to find on the open market, so the best hope this year is Edgin coming up and clicking
    - Metsie June 23, 2012 at 12:02 pm
      
      Perhaps that guy is already here in Byrdak and all we need is another left specialist to take his place. Those will be much easier to find than a LHC
      - Even Flow June 23, 2012 at 12:58 pm
        
        Justin Hampson says hi.
Even Flow June 23, 2012 at 12:00 pm

This kid is gonna coast through the system. I’ll give him 2 years till he shows up to the bigs.
Fonzie13 June 23, 2012 at 1:55 pm

This kid has excellent stuff and paints the corners. Rarely walks anyone. I think he’ll remain as a starter. He’ll move quick through the system. He’s probably already better than Montero and that’s saying something.

NL East Standings

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB
Braves	42	28	.600	-
Nationals	34	35	.493	7.5
Phillies	34	37	.479	8.5
Mets	25	40	.385	14.5
Marlins	22	47	.319	19.5

Last updated: 06/18/2013

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