Photo: Ed Delany, MMO

In 2013, Mets used their 29th round draft pick to select LHP Anthony Kay out of Ward Melville High School. The interest was quite understandable with Kay setting 27 different pitching records at that high school, which as Mets fans are well aware, is the alma mater of Steven Matz.

Kay would eschew the Mets and would instead enroll at the University of Connecticut. Three years later, the Mets finally got their man by drafting Kay in the 31st overall draft pick. Unfortunately, upon reviewing his medicals, it was discovered Kay would need Tommy John surgery thereby delaying the start of his professional career until this season.

In sum, the Mets have waited about five years to see what Kay could do as a member of the Mets organization.

Now, if you judge solely by the numbers in Columbia, you would wonder why exactly the Mets were so high on Kay. Despite him being over a year older than the competition, he was just 4-4 with a 4.54 ERA and a 1.370 WHIP.

However, lost in those numbers were the fact he had not thrown a pitch in a game since 2016, had never previously made a start as a professional, and the stuff which made the Mets so high on him was returning.  In fact, at the time he was drafted, Baseball America noted Kay was a three-pitch pitcher with the ability to ramp up his fastball:

The ace of UConn’s staff, Kay throws three pitches for strikes. His fastball works in the low 90s and touches 95 early in his starts. Scouts see his changeup is an above-average or plus pitch; it shows both fade and tumble and generates swings and misses from righthanded hitters regularly.

John Sickels of Minor League Ball was also high on Kay saying, “His overall sense of command is solid and he projects well as a three-pitch workhorse.”

Even with his proverbial struggles in Columbia, his stuff and control were improving.  As Columbia manager Pedro Lopez remarked early in the season, “Fastball in the mid-90s, good breaking ball, pretty good feel for the changeup.”  (Mark Sanchez, New York Post).

His stuff returning and his walk rate dropping, which indicated Kay’s control was returning, Kay was promoted to St. Lucie.  With St. Lucie, we have seen Kay not only continue with that strong fastball-changeup combination, but we have seen an improved curve from him as well:

https://twitter.com/jtscouting/status/1029519557805977600?s=21

That curve was thrown in his last start. In that game, Kay had one of his best starts this season limiting the Florida Fire Frogs to one earned on five hits in six innings pitched.

Making that start all the more impressive was it happened against the Florida State League affiliated of a loaded Braves farm system. According to MLB Pipeline, that lineup featured the Braves ninth (Drew Waters), 12th (William Contreras), 14th (Greyson Jenista) best prospects. Of note, Waters is the 96th best prospect in all of baseball according to Baseball America.

With Kay’s stuff coming back and with him making strides with his curveball, he has been much better with St. Lucie than he was with Columbia.  In fact, against the higher level of competition, he is 3-5 with a 3.35 ERA.

Overall, the Mets have waited quite a while to see Kay take the mound for them, and so far, they have to be pleased with the results.  With him getting his first professional season under his belt, his making adjustments, and really just being stronger after being another year removed from Tommy John, we could very well see him take off next season.