Ed Delany, MMO
Yesterday General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen and the New York Mets made another depth move, signing infielder Adeiny Hechavarria to a minor league deal. The 2019 team is really starting to come together, though some still feel this team has a few omissions.
In particular one of the big missing pieces being discussed is the Mets lack of starting pitching depth. Although according to Anthony Dicomo of MLB.com, thus far in camp the Mets staff has really been talking up their depth when it comes to the rotation.
One of the names that has been discussed numerous times not only by Van Wagenen but also Mets manager Mickey Callaway is Rule 5 Draft pick, right-hander Kyle Dowdy.
“He’s got a really nice four-pitch mix, and we want to see all of those. We want to let him shine. You’re going to see him out there as much as possible, and we’re excited that he’s in our organization for now,” Callaway told Tim Healey of Newsday.
The former 12th round draft pick spent the first two years of his career in the Detroit Tigers organization. He was then traded to the Indians in July, and they left him unprotected during the Rule Five Draft.
The hard throwing righty made 20 starts last season, and over 120 innings he struck out 124 batters while posting a 5.15 ERA and 1.48 WHIP. Despite the relatively high minor league numbers, Callaway is optimistic that Dowdy can find success after making a couple of changes with both the Tigers and Indians last season.
“He came out last season and was throwing about 91, 92. And he worked on some arm action stuff that shortened up and quickened his arm in the back, very similar to what Wheeler worked on and what deGrom did really good last year. And all of a sudden it’s coming out a little bit better, then he gets traded over to Cleveland and they work on some mechanical things to get his hips moving a little bit more toward home plate and quicker, and all of a sudden he’s throwing 96, 97,” Callaway said on the young righties adjustments.
Though he has mainly been used as a starter thus far in his career, with the Mets rotation as loaded as it is, Dowdy is currently competing with many others for one of the last few open bullpen spots on the Opening Day roster. Early on in camp, he is showing his new manager that he’s hungry for that role.
“This kid is the first one to the ballpark every morning. When I come in from lifting, I’m walking back through and he’s the first one in there. And he’s the last one to usually leave. So he’s on a mission,” Callaway added.
