José Butto. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
After the New York Mets took a 10-7 loss to the Washington Nationals in West Palm Beach Saturday night, the organization announced their first round of roster cuts as players start to get sent to minor league camp with the season two-and-a-half weeks away.
In this latest round of cuts, the Mets optioned right-handed pitcher José Butto to Triple-A Syracuse while sending four pitchers (right-handers Connor Grey, Grant Hartwig, Eric Orze, and left-hander Josh Walker), catcher Kevin Parada, and outfielder Alex Ramírez to minor league camp as their spring roster decreases to 55 players.
If you are looking for the players that can find their way to the big leagues in 2023 on this list, look no further than Butto and Hartwig. Butto, who made his MLB debut a year ago, can be a pitcher needed for a spot start down the road. He made two appearances (one start this spring) and allowed two runs on two hits and struck out seven over 3 2/3 innings.
As for Hartwig, he continues to rise up the ranks in the farm system after having a 1.75 ERA in 39 appearances across all four levels of the minor league system in 2022 (83 strikeouts to 24 walks in 56 2/3 innings). He has made two appearances this spring and has allowed one hit, walked a batter, and struck out three in two scoreless innings.
Grey will begin the year at Triple-A. The 28-year-old right-hander went 5-6 with a 6.38 ERA in 26 games (24 starts) with Syracuse last year as he struck out 88 batters and walked 43 in 104 1/3 innings pitched (.308 batting average against). He has allowed four runs on five hits, walked two batters, and struck out three over 3 2/3 innings (two appearances).
Walker threw three innings for the Mets in spring, allowing one run and striking out one as well. The 28-year-old might be on the radar this year if the Mets continue to need left-handed bullpen depth. Despite having a 6.91 ERA in nine appearances at Syracuse, Walker did manage 23 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings.
Orze goes into the year ranked as the 19th-best prospect in the Mets system according to MLB Pipeline. The 25-year-old had two stints on the IL last year, but the fifth-round pick in 2020 can shine with his splitter out of the bullpen. In three spring appearances, Orze has allowed three hits, walked three batters, and struck out five in three scoreless innings.
Parada will continue to get more reps at minor league camp as he continues to develop as a catcher. The Mets’ third-best prospect according to MLB Pipeline has six at-bats in big league spring training and went 1-for-6 with a walk, a pair of strikeouts, and a RBI.
Finally, Ramírez should get his chance at the upper levels of the minor league system at some point in 2023, if it’s not at the beginning of the year. The fourth-best prospect in the system has appeared in 12 games this spring (4-for-17, 1 RBI, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts). He hasn’t had many chances to show off the speed that led him to have 21 stolen bases at Low-A St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn a year ago, but there’s a lot of potential in this center fielder.
