Jenrry Mejia

The Mets mishandled the former blue-chip prospect early on, as both his 2010 and 2012 stints with the club were completely inexplicable. He very clearly wasn’t ready even without the benefit of hindsight, especially since they were still committed to keeping him a starter even though he spent most of that first tour in the bullpen. He resurfaced for an impressive mid-summer run in 2013, but bone spurs in his elbow stymied him and reintroduced the questions about how durable he could be as a starter. Mejia went out and answered that question himself in 2014. He held batters to a .504 OPS in his first run through opposing lineups before seeing it jump to .780 the second time around and then explode to 1.095 the third time. It started to become clear that he was a 50-pitch guy, not a 100-pitch guy. The Mets finally sent him to the bullpen where he flourished in a ninth-inning role, notching a 2.72 ERA with 28 saves and 60 strikeouts in 56 innings. It might not be enough to secure the role out of the gate in 2015, though, as the return of Bobby Parnell looms.

Mejia was diagnosed with elbow inflammation and forearm tendinitis in spring training and was expected to miss six weeks. After making two rehab starts, Mejia experienced a flareup of the forearm injury, pushing his return back to late June. Mejia was promoted to the majors in late July, and after five excellent starts, he was shut down for the season. Bone spurs were discovered in May, when Mejia first had the flare-up, and surgery was recommended. Mejia decided that he wanted to finish the season and then have the surgery, so he had to take anti-inflammatories to control the swelling and discomfort. The discomfort proved too great, so he was shut down in mid-August and had surgery 10 days later. In those five starts, he posted a 2.30 ERA and struck out 27 over 27.1 innings, earning the chance to earn a starting job in spring training.

The primary goal for Mejia in 2012 was to get back on the mound and begin to prepare for future seasons after having Tommy John surgery in May of 2011. He made it back from the operation, getting five appearances including three starts for the Mets down the stretch. While his control was poor in that limited sample, Mejia had a combined 2.8 BB/9 over three levels while working his way back to the big league last season. Considering that he only threw 92.2 innings a year ago, the Mets will likely give him a limited workload this season, but Mejia figures to be among the candidate for a place in the back of the rotation during spring training.

Mejia, who at the time was viewed as the Mets' best starting pitching prospect, bounced between starting and relieving in 2010. He opened 2011 at Triple-A as starter, despite the view that his best path to the majors and ultimate position would be in the bullpen. Mejia used his low-to-mid 90s cutting/sinking fastball, plus-changeup and work-in-progress curveball to blaze through his first five starts, putting visions of an early-season callup in Mets' fans eyes. Those hopes were dashed as Mejia completely tore the MCL in his right elbow and underwent Tommy John surgery in May. He could return to action in mid-2012 and contend for a rotation spot in 2013.

Mejia, the Mets' top pitching and possibly best overall prospect, had a brilliant spring training to earn a spot in the team's bullpen to open the year. He was used intermittently the first two-plus months of the year before the organization finally made the right move, sending him to Double-A Binghamton to be stretched out as a starter. Mejia then missed six weeks with a posterior cuff strain, but progressed quickly upon his return, before getting shut down in mid-September with the same injury while pitching in New York. Mejia throws a low-to-mid 90s cutting/sinking fastball, a plus-changeup and a major work-in-progress curveball. He needs to work on finding a consistent release point and improve his command. The Mets' new management have intimated that Mejia will spend all of 2011 at Triple-A before being considered for a spot in the team's rotation in 2012.

Mejia, a non-drafted free agent signee in 2007, has progressed all the way to being the Mets' top pitching and possibly best overall prospect. Mejia went 4-1 with a 1.97 ERA and 44 strikeouts while not allowing a home run in 50.1 innings to earn a promotion from High-A St. Lucie to Double-A Binghamton. A month after the promotion, Mejia was sidelined for seven weeks with a strain of the middle finger on his pitching hand, but was able to return for the latter part of the B-Mets' season and pitch in the AFL. Mejia, who throws a low-to-mid 90s cutting/sinking fastball, a plus-changeup and major work-in-progress slider, also needs to work on finding a consistent release point and improving his command. He struggled at the higher level and should open 2010 back in Double-A with a possible promotion to Triple-A if he pitches well.