#3 on my list is left-handed reliever Daniel Zamora.
The Mets traded for him from the Pirates in exchange for another left-handed reliever Josh Smoker. After getting called up on August 17th, the lefty pitched to a 3.00 ERA/2.38 FIP and 16.00 K/9 in 9 big league innings (16 games). He held left-handed hitters to a .222 batting average against him.
Zamora is a two-pitch pitcher. He is not a high-velocity pitcher like the other members of the Mets pitching staff. He doesn’t have an overpowering fastball, (it sits in low 90s/high 80s) but he features a plus slider that was a big reason for his success last season. Here are some gifs of his slider from the great PitchingNinja on twitter:
Danel Zamora, Filthy 79mph Slider (release/spin/slow). pic.twitter.com/6ANElt6ukD
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 15, 2018
Daniel Zamora, Filthy 80mph Slider. 🤢 pic.twitter.com/8y8LnfvY1D
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 18, 2018
An inning with Daniel Zamora's unhittable Sliders. 🤢 pic.twitter.com/g7EnZUtBRT
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 15, 2018
As of now, it looks like Daniel Zamora will start the year in the minor leagues after signings of Justin Wilson and Luis Avilan. Unless an injury happens orMets carry three left-handed relievers on the Opening Day roster that is. But we will see a lot of Daniel Zamora on the big league roster this season. Injuries happen, guys underperform, and sometimes the bullpen just needs a fresh arm.
I think by the middle of the season Daniel Zamora will prove to be a valuable and important arm in the Mets bullpen. With his plus slider and the small taste of big league action he got last season, I think Daniel Zamora is primed for a breakout.