Control issues are hindering the progress of several highly touted New York Mets pitching prospects, preventing them from seizing an open Major League rotation spot. Prospects Jonah Tong, Jack Wenninger, and Jonathan Santucci are currently at Triple-A Syracuse, but their struggles with command have stalled their advancement.
The departure of pitcher Freddy Peralta at the trade deadline created a vacancy that the Mets hoped to fill with one of these promising young arms. However, until they demonstrate better control, the team may continue to rely on veteran Robert Stock.
Stock, a 36-year-old journeyman, has remained in the starting rotation despite an inconsistent performance, including an outing against the Pirates last Saturday. He is scheduled to start against the Nationals on Friday at Citi Field.
Despite these challenges, the Mets rotation has seen a bright spot in Zac Thornton. The left-handed rookie has emerged this season, joining Nolan McLean to provide the team with two solid young starters. Thornton has posted a 2.78 earned run average in eight starts for the Mets.