Mets pitching prospect Mike Vasil showing encouraging signs with Triple-A Syracuse
Mike Vasil #48 of the Mets pitches during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at T-Mobile Park on July 08, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. Credit: Getty Images/Steph Chambers
ATLANTA — Pitching prospect Mike Vasil has the attention of Mets decision-makers, but don’t expect an immediate promotion to the majors.
The 23-year-old righthander pitched well again Sunday for Triple-A Syracuse, the third start in a row in which he showed signs of having figured out the highest level of the minors. He has a 1.83 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in that small sample (19 2⁄3 innings), and took a no-hitter into the ninth inning against Scranton on Aug. 8.
Before that, Vasil had a 7.04 ERA and 1.89 WHIP in eight starts after his promotion from Double-A Binghamton.
“Some good, some learning,” manager Buck Showalter said of the reports he has received on Vasil. “It’s a development in progress. He made a jump. I know he had a good outing [Sunday] night. There’s some that haven’t been particularly good . . . He’s a good prospect.”
Vasil has climbed the minor-league ladder quickly since the Mets selected him out of the University of Virginia in the eighth round of the draft in 2021.
“He’s got a chance to pitch up here at some point,” Showalter said. “I don’t think there’s anything imminent about it.”
Prospect punished
Major League Baseball announced that shortstop prospect Cristopher Larez has been suspended for 56 games after testing positive for Boldenone, a banned performance-enhancing drug.
Larez, 17, had been playing in the Dominican Summer League after signing for a $1.4 million bonus in January.
Extra bases
Mark Vientos (left wrist tendinitis) is recovering well after receiving an injection, Showalter said, adding that “he’s got a chance to be available maybe not on the day he’s eligible but close to it.” Vientos is eligible to return from the injured list Saturday . . . Showalter is aiming to get at least one regular, perhaps shortstop Francisco Lindor, a day off Wednesday, in part because of the mid-to-high-90s heat in Atlanta and in part because it’ll give the individual(s) “the benefit of two,” given the day off Thursday.
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
