Bryce Montes de Oca is now only one step from realizing the dream of becoming a big leaguer despite having gone through multiple surgeries and blood clots that wiped out two full years of throwing. The 6’7”, 250-pound right-hander is currently serving as the closer for the Triple-A Syracuse Mets.

The story for Montes de Oca –besides the constant injury issues– has always been his blazing fastball that has been up to 102 mph and the struggle to throw strikes. His final season at Missouri was his best with a career-lows in ERA (3.13), WHIP (1.189), BB/9 (5.4) and he struck out 65 batters in 54 2/3 innings. That season pushed the Mets to take the big reliever in the ninth round of the 2018 draft.

Montes de Oca already went through Tommy John surgery when he was in high school and ulnar nerve transposition in college, however, he would need four more surgeries before finally getting his footing in the Mets system in 2021. Nearly three years after the Mets drafted him, Montes de Oca finally made his pro debut on May 5, 2021, with a scoreless inning for the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones.

The 26-year-old would pitch in 25 more games with Brooklyn before a late-season promotion to Double-A Binghamton for a couple of outings. Combined in 2021, Montes de Oca had a 4.50 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 34 innings. He allowed only 23 hits and struck out 47, but walked 27 batters and uncorked nine wild pitches in that span.

Though as you will see by the numbers that Montes de Oca still struggles with control, he’s been better in virtually every category in 2022. The Kansas native started the season back in Double-A where he posted a 3.12 ERA in 17 1/3 innings despite a 1.44 WHIP. The Mets were enticed enough by his big fastball and a sharp slider that produced a 12.5 K/9 to promote him to Triple-A Syracuse.

In Triple-A, Montes de Oca has looked arguably the best he has in the pros as he’s lowered the walks a little and the strikeouts have gone up. In 26 innings for Syracuse, Montes de Oca has a 3.46 ERA (2.93 FIP) and 1.31 WHIP. He has a 13.8 K/9 and 5.5 BB/9 to go along with 6.2 H/9. Another impressive note to his season is that he hasn’t given up a home run in 43 1/3 innings. He also saved seven games for Syracuse including his most recent six-out save last week.

As you can see in the above video, Montes de Oca can be flat-out dominant at times, and to no surprise when you have a fastball consistently hitting 100 and a slider with good bite in the 90s. You can also see where the control issues are coming from, he’s a big pitcher with violent delivery that isn’t easily repeated. That delivery also makes it tougher for the hitters to pick up his pitches and that’s certainly evident by the .186 average they have against him in the minors.

The limitations for Montes de Oca certainly come with the fact that he’s walked 57 batters in 77 pro innings. That said, he’s also given up only 52 hits and struck out 111 during that span.

Montes de Oca is not currently on the 40-man roster, though he’s going to be Rule 5 Draft eligible this offseason and there’s no way the Mets leave an arm throwing 102 in Triple-A exposed. With the Mets facing injuries to the starting rotation right now and the need for fresh arms in the bullpen, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the fireballer make his major league debut in 2022.