Allen Greene, Kingsport
MLB released a list on Friday of 30 players (one from each team) of Rookie of the Year candidates for 2021. Minor league pitcher Thomas Szapucki topped their list for the Mets.
It’s easy to see why he could be the Mets best candidate. He had an ERA of 2.37 while striking out 72, nearly posting a 3:1 K:BB ratio in the process. This was while returning to baseball after a 22-month rehab from Tommy John surgery.
With openings in the Mets rotation, Szapucki could break in and make the 26-man Opening Day roster. According to the MLB Prospect Rankings, he’s No. 8 in the organization.
With Cohen at the helm as the new owner, Szapucki could actually be a good candidate for the award. With his willingness to spend and do what’s best for the organization, the right offensive pieces could help him get some run support and confidence to pitch well enough to win the award.
