We’re chugging along and going into the final 14 of our very very long prospect list, and have come across a very old name that has been a top prospect since 2012. Gabriel Ynoa continues to take the long approach for our consideration as a top prospect, and we are very close to seeing the fruits of his labor. He is our #14.
No.14 Gabriel Ynoa, RHP
Ht: 6’2″ Wt: 160 B/T: R/R
Age: 5/26/1993 (22) Age Dif: -2.6
Acquired: International Free Agent, 2009 out of the Dominican Republic
Statistics AA – 25 G, 24 GS, 152.1 IP, 3.90 ERA, 157 H, 31 BB/82 K, .265 BAA
If you could describe Gabriel Ynoa with one word, it would be control. No, I don’t mean political control, or that remote you use to surf your channels. I’m talking true precision and control. Ynoa knows exactly where he wants the ball to go and then he just locates it there, no questions asked. In his career in the minor leagues, he has had a rate of 1.3 walks per 9 innings, which compared to any other of our other starters is truly incredible.
Signed in 2009 at the age of 16, and despite dominating the Dominican Summer League in 2010 with a 1.99 ERA, and doing well in Kingsport and Gulf Coast League in 2011, Ynoa burst onto the scene truly in Brooklyn in 2012 when he had a 2.23 ERA in 13 starts as a 19 year old. Armed with a fastball already in the low 90’s Ynoa was a hot commodity when he reached full season ball in Savannah and took full advantage of Old Grayson’s cavernous surroundings, posting a 2.72 ERA.
However, when he arrived to St. Lucie in 2014 he started to give up hits a-plenty, giving up 10.3 per 9 innings which in a pitcher’s league like the Florida State isn’t good. When he was promoted after 14 starts, he did a little worse, giving up a similar amount of hits and more runs. In 2015, he did a little better, giving up less hits and less earned runs but he struck out even less.
Gabriel Ynoa pitches now in the low to mid 90’s and bumps 96 at times. However, while the fastball will find any quadrant, it has found itself to be hittable. At times his changeup has graded out as plus, but it does not garner the swing and misses you’d like to see enough, nor do his curve or slider.
Ynoa has a lot to prove in general, posting mediocre ERA’s and giving up too many hits as of late. Not missing many bats either with it dwindling to 4.8 strikeouts in 9 innings. As that continues to drop, which it very well might when he takes his turn in Vegas’s dry heat, he might be not be viable for a starting role anymore despite the Mets’ insistence. However, if he can find his way to strike out more guys, he could keep his starting status and be one heck of a replacement for one of the big five should one go down for injury.
Ynoa had a good showing this spring in big league camp with a breaking ball that had more tilt on it than during the 2015 season. Maybe the mastermind Dan Warthen finally got to work with the young pitcher.
Previous prospects in the top 30:
#15 Ali Sanchez, #16 Luis Guillorme, #17 Chris Flexen, #18 Max Wotell, #19 Milton Ramos, #20 Akeel Morris
If you would like to see the rest of our series, please tune into MetsMinors.net where we covered the Top 80 Mets Prospects.
