5 Mets breakout candidates for 2019: #3 Daniel Zamora

 

#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:

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.