Since making his MLB debut on June 23, New York Mets right-handed reliever Drew Smith has shown a ton of potential. He’s also gained the intrigue of his manager, Mickey Callaway.

Smith was acquired by the Mets from Tampa Bay at the trade deadline last season, in exchange for first-baseman Lucas Duda.

After pitching to a 2.46 earned-run average in 51.3 innings between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Las Vegas since the trade, the 24-year-old from Crowley, TX has appeared in twelve games for the Mets.

In 13.2 innings pitched, all in relief, Smith has a 1.98 earned-run average, a 3.52 fielding independent pitching rating, a 3.33 strikeouts-to-walks ratio, and a 1.171 WHIP.

Before Friday night’s game versus the Nats, Callaway spoke to the media and seemed impressed with Smith’s makeup as a pitcher.

“He’s done a great job. He bounces back really good. We kind of noticed that from the last time that we kind of pushed him a little bit.”

Smith was used sparingly after being called up earlier this season. His first seven appearances (June 23 through August 10; in Triple-A from July 8 to July 20) resulted in a 2.25 ERA with a .276/.333/.345 slash line against, four strikeouts, and two bases-on-balls.

No doubt, it was a very nice start.

Since August 15, the young righty has made five appearances and pitched on back-to-back games on Wednesday and Thursday against the Giants, a career first for him.

In those five appearances, Smith has a 1.59 ERA, a .238/.273/.429 slash line against, six strikeouts, and no walks in 5.2 innings.

Talk about making a statement. Apparently, that’s exactly what he did. Again, from Callaway,

“I almost feel like he’s locked in a little bit more when he pitches more often. So it’s been nice to get him more work. It’s been nice to see him really locked in and throwing the ball over the plate with a really good breaking ball.”

Smith’s curveball, which, as per Fangraphs, he throws 18 percent of the time, has resulted in 1.32 runs above the league average per 100 pitches. Compared to the -0.95 and 0.83 his changeup and fastball register at, respectively, that doesn’t seem all that extraordinary.

But when used properly, along with his effective heater and changeup, a “really good breaking ball” could become quite the weapon for a young pitcher looking to make his mark.

Drew Smith has just begun to make that mark on the New York Mets, and the early returns are extremely encouraging.