In an article on MLB.com from Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo and Mike Rosenbaum, the group goes over their picks for the most impactful prospects to come out of the National League East this season.
Their pick for New York Mets’ impact-prospect of 2018 went to right-hander Chris Flexen. The Mets’ 23-year-old prospect (No. 9 in their Mets’ Top-30) made his MLB debut last season after a rash of injuries emaciated the team’s rotation.
In 48 innings at the major league level last season, Flexen pitched to a 7.88 earned-run average with a 2.021 WHIP and 6.8 strikeouts per nine innings. During his time in the minors, he’s owned a 3.28 ERA, 1.236 WHIP and 7.4 strikeouts per nine, over 417.1 innings.
He also had an outstanding spring in which Flexen had a 1.80 earned-run average, over five Grapefruit League innings. While he didn’t make the Opening Day roster, there’s a great possibility that we’ll see him on the Mets’ roster very soon.
The rest of the NL East was broken down as such: They named Ronald Acuna (No. 2 in MLB Top-100) the impact prospect of the Atlanta Braves, outfielder Lewis Brinson (No. 27, acquired in the Christian Yelich trade) for the Miami Marlins, Philadelphia Phillies’ shortstop prospect J.P. Crawford (No. 37, spot opens up after Freddy Galvis trade to San Diego), and Nationals’ outfield prospect, No. 6 in the MLB Top-100, Victor Robles to fill out the list.
As for Flexen, the writers over at MLB.com definitely make a great point. Flexen was called up quite early and showed flashes of what his potential is last season.
Starting the year in the minors will give him an opportunity to fine-tune his game and get more seasoning before returning to Queens. The future is very bright for the young right-hander.
