When the Blue Jays sold starting Marcus Stroman to the Mets before of MLB’s July 31 trade deadline, they got two of the team’s top pitching prospects.
According to MLB Pipeline, Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods-Richardson are the Mets’ fourth and sixth-best prospects, respectively. As of 2019, Kay was the Mets organization’s top pitching prospect.
Kay was picked twice by the Mets, the first in the 29th round of the 2013 MLB Amateur Draft out of high school, and the second in the 29th round of the 2014 MLB Amateur Draft out of college.
He chose to pitch three seasons at the University of Connecticut. Kay was taken again by the Mets in 2016, this time with the 31st overall choice in the draft.
Kay’s professional debut was delayed due to Tommy John surgery in 2018, but by this season, he has risen to the Syracuse Mets, New York’s Triple-A club.
In 2019, he appeared in seven games for the team, posting a 1-3 record and a 6.61 ERA.
That year, he had significantly more success in Double-A Binghamton, where he had a 1.49 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings in 12 starts.
Kay’s high-spin-rate fastball sat at 92-94 mph on his return to the mound, and he occasionally hit the mid-90s,” according to MLB Pipeline’s scouting report on Kay.
“His changeup was his best secondary option at UConn, but he now throws a solid curveball in the mid 80s with an outstanding spin rate and strong, downer action in pro ball.”
His changeup is still an above-average pitch, with late sinking movement that complements his fastball.
He has a good feel for his art, and he has good control and command, which could improve as he adds experience.”
When Was Anthony Kay Drafted?
Kay was picked twice by the Mets, the first in the 29th round of the 2013 MLB Amateur Draft out of high school, and the second in the 29th round of the 2014 MLB Amateur Draft out of college.