Kevin McGowan took the largest leap of his career last year.
Wait, did you think I was talking about finally making it to AAA and getting a Non-Roster Invitation to Spring Training? Nope.
Kevin McGowan cracked into the Baseball Prospectus 2017 Annual as a lineout at the end of the 2017 Mets Preview. “Kevin McGowan’s stuff and command made huge strikes with a move to shorter stints, and he could factor into a major-league bullpen as soon as this year” (comments from Jarrett Seidler and BP Staff).
Kevin McGowan was drafted by the Mets in the 13th round of the 2013 draft out of Franklin Pierce University (NH). His 2015 line between St. Lucie and Binghamton (only 7.0 innings AA) where tossed 26 games, 24 starts and 139.0 innings with a 5.50 ERA. Last year he tossed 84.1 innings over three levels (33.0 innings St. Lucie, 49.2 Binghamton and 1.2 Las Vegas). In those 84.1 innings he posted a 2.35 ERA.
Furthermore his WHIP went from 1.496 to 1.091, his K/BB ratio jumped from 1.45 to 3.77. The main difference between 2015 and 2016? Well, its exactly what BP said, he went to the pen. He’s a right hander, and the Mets have a lot of those so that will work against him working his way into the bullpen but injuries happen and as the bullpen gets shuffled, he could work his way in.
Age wise, its also almost time. He’s 24 now so he’s not past “prospect” prime yet, but the clock is ticking.
