It was announced earlier this week that the New York Mets received right-handed pitcher Eric Hanhold from the Milwaukee Brewers as the player to be named later to finish the deal for veteran infielder Neil Walker.
Hanhold, 23, was drafted by the Brewers in the sixth round of the 2015 draft from the University of Florida. He struggled in his first two pro seasons (7.43 ERA and 4.81) working primarily as starter.
The move to the pen has worked out for the 6’5” righty from Tennessee. He posted a career best 3.94 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and limited opponents to only three home runs in 64 innings. He struck out 60, walked 21 and allowed 71 hits.
It was a tale of two seasons for Eric in 2017, with a 5.97 ERA in his first half as a reliever and 1.53 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 29 innings during his second half of Carolina League (Advanced-A) action. Part of the reason he fared better in the second half was the Brewers holding him more often to just one inning of relief.
Hanhold features a fastball that sits 93-95 MPH with natural sink on it, he led the Carolina League with 58.6% groundball rate. He also had the lowest flyball rate in the league at 18.8%.
His best secondary pitch is a slider at 86-89 MPH that he’s shown good command of out of the pen.
Mets Minors News and Notes
Right-handed pitchers Adonis Uceta and Harol Gonzalez were taken in the Dominican Winter League draft last night.
Alberto Baldonado, Xorge Carrillo, Victor Cruzado, Luis Mateo and Nabil Crismatt headline the group of minor leaguers that will become free agents for the first time this offseason.
The Mets Instructional League is currently scheduled to start next week, the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals have decided to cancel their leagues.
