Skip to main content

Prospect Nation 2014: #15 LHP Yoel Mecias

Yoel Mecias, Image- Tug Haines
Despite having his 2013 campaign shortened due to a severe elbow injury, Venezuelan born hurler Yoel Mecias made a name for himself as a notable prospect in the Phillies system last year. The lefty, who turned 20 years old this off-season, underwent Tommy John surgery in June after an impressive stint with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws.

Signed as an amateur free agent in December 2010, Mecias made his pro debut with the Gulf Coast League Phillies in 2012, tallying a 0-2 record with two saves and a 2.16 ERA in 14 games (four starts). In his 10 relief outings, Mecias sported a 1.90 ERA. Overall, he struck out 34 batters and walked 11 in 41 2/3 innings that year after some time in extended spring training.

Mecias also made an appearance for Aragua of the Venezuelan Winter League in 2012 as well.

In 13 games (11 starts) with Lakewood last season, Mecias posted a 4-3 record and a 3.79 ERA along with an 11.05 K/9 mark. His efforts were enough to gain him recognition as a South Atlantic League All-Star. He was also honored as the Phillies' minor league pitcher of the month in May when he posted a 3-1 record and a 1.50 ERA over six starts.

With an eye on his pitch count, Mecias was permitted to pitch longer than five innings just twice last year. The cautious approach didn't have great results, of course, as the youngster experienced trouble with his elbow and required reconstructive surgery on his ulnar collateral ligament.

Equipped with a fastball that ranges in the high 80's to low 90's and an already Major League ready change up, Mecias will look to upgrade his breaking pitch, a slider, that will need some improvement as he climbs the developmental ladder.

At six-foot-two and 160 pounds, Mecias possesses a small frame. He projects to fill out a bit and add muscle, which would increase is stamina along with his velocity.

It's possible Mecias ends up as a reliever in the long run, but organizational coaches view him as a big league starter in the future. His progress will certainly determine what his role will be.

Mecias is going to spend much of this coming season rehabbing his throwing elbow but could possibly be on the mound by mid-summer. Former Phillies prospect Carlos Carrasco underwent Tommy John surgery and returned to game action in under a year when he appeared in rehab games with Double-A Akron in the Eastern League playoffs in September 2012.

When Mecias is ready to appear in official games it'll likely be for the GCL team, so he can pitch under the watchful eyes of Phils trainers in Clearwater, but a return to Lakewood could be on tap for this year as well, once he's 100 percent, if his recovery goes well.

Click here to view the running list of this year's countdown.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Diekman a Late Addition to Mesa AFL Roster

On Wednesday, Phillies lefty pitching prospect Jacob Diekman made his Arizona Fall League debut. Diekman, who was drafted in the 30th round of the 2007 amateur draft, was assigned to Mesa late, in order to increase his 2010 innings total, according to Mesa hitting coach Mark Parent, who managed Diekman in Lakewood this past season. Diekman, 23, posted a 2-0 record with 1.90 ERA in 21 games with Class A Lakewood before being promoted to High-A Clearwater on June 24th. In 24 games with the Threshers, Diekman went 0-2 with a 3.66 ERA. Combined, Diekman tossed 55 2/3 innings and held opponents to a .187 batting average against at two levels in 2010. However, after not pitching in an official game since he threw a shutout inning to wrap up the Clearwater season on September 5th, Diekman was unable to record an out as all seven batters he faced reached base, six with hits, one on an error. Diekman was charged with 5 earned runs in the outing. Diekman had spent time at instructional ball from

2022 Phillies Top Prospects Countdown: #24 RHP Cristian Hernandez

Venezuelan born right-hander Cristian Hernandez has begun to earn recognition as one of the Phillies most promising pitching prospects. Signed as a 16-year-old in 2017 for a reported $120,000, Hernandez got his professional career started the following summer as a starter for the Phillies' Red Dominican Summer League club.  There, in 13 starts, Hernandez tallied a 2-3 record with 2.57 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP as well as a 7.0 K/9 mark. An injury sidelined Hernandez in 2019 and the 2020 season was cancelled due to the global pandemic. In 2021, Hernandez saw his first regular season action in the United States, starting his season in Florida Complex League.  After two appearances there, the six-foot-three 185-pounder was promoted to the Class A Clearwater Threshers.  In 20 combined outings (17 starts), Hernandez notched a 2-7 record with a 3.57 ERA, a .228 batting average against and an 11.2 K/9 mark. Projectability is something that baseball folks like about Hernandez.  His size, consistent

Who is Your Favorite Willie 'Mays' Hayes?

PhoulBallz.com is wondering which individual who has portrayed Willie "Mays" Hayes is the favorite of the public. Hayes, of course, is the character made famous in the Major League motion picture series. In Major League , Willie "Mays" Hayes was portrayed by budding Hollywood actor Wesley Snipes, who would go on to action movie superstardom. Snipes has starred in major motion pictures like the Blade trilogy, Passenger 57 , Undisputed and many more. Snipes remains an impact Hollywood actor, despite legal troubles related to income tax evasion. Snipes was replaced for the sequel, Major League II when his busy career, and possibly the film's budget, would not allow him to return, by Omar Epps. Another budding actor, Epps had previously worked with director David S. Ward, on the film The Program , and landed the role of Hayes, who had become a Hollywood action star over the off-season that occured between the two films. Epps' career portraying athletes rolle