With the No. 19 pick in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft, the Mets selected right-hander Justin Dunn out of Boston College.
That season, he appeared in 11 games (eight started) for the Short-A Brooklyn Cyclones, recording a 1.50 ERA and .227 BAA in 30.0 innings pitched.
However, 2017 wasn’t as kind to him. He spent the season with High-A St. Lucie, and registered a 5.00 ERA over 95.1 innings pitched. What was perhaps the most concerning was his lack of control at the level; he walked 45 batters. He was also placed on the disabled list in August with an undisclosed injury.
With all that being said, the Mets remain bullish on their former first round pick, a talent evaluator recently told Mike Puma.
“He didn’t pitch a lot in college, so when he got to pro ball it’s all new to him, starting and going through all that stuff,” a Mets talent evaluator said. “He is just finding himself right now, but [he has a] good arm, good stuff, good competitor, good athlete.”
Dunn pitched mostly as a reliever in college, and may end up as one in the future, but for now the team sees him as a starter. They obviously have faith in him, as well. They had him skip Class-A Columbia altogether as he made the jump from Brooklyn to St. Lucie.
“He went from the New York-Penn League to the Florida State League, (and) that is a big jump for somebody who didn’t pitch a lot in college,” the evaluator said. “I think you will see his numbers improve this year. He is a good one. He just needs time.”
At just 22-years-old, the Mets are hoping he can have a reversal of fortunes and represent the future pitchers of this team.
