BA GRADE
45
Risk: Medium
FB: 50.
CB: 55.
SL: 45.
CHG: 50.
CTL: 50.
Born: July 1, 1994. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 250. Drafted: HS—Newark, Calif., 2012 (14th round). Signed by: Jim Blueberg.
Flexen began the 2017 season on the disabled list after having surgery to remove a bone spur from his right knee. He ended it in the big leagues after a 10-start run through the minors that included his first seven turns at Double-A. Flexen missed time in 2014 and 2015 recovering from Tommy John surgery and wasn’t ready for prime time as an emergency callup in 2017, as indicated by his 7.88 ERA in 48 innings.
Flexen added a few ticks to his fastball, threw more strikes and improved the effectiveness of his mid-70s curveball in 2017. In fact, he recorded the second-highest curveball spin rate on Mets’ big league staff, finishing (a distant) second to Seth Lugo, owner of the highest-spin curve of the Statcast era. Flexen pitches at 92 mph and can reach 96, while adeptly adding sinking or riding life to his fastball by changing his grip. He made progress with his average changeup, but would benefit from developing his fringe-average slider into a chase pitch.
Flexen commands three pitches but lacks a knockout offering. Without an out pitch, he profiles as a No. 5 starter or reliever.
Year |
Club (League) |
Class |
W |
L |
ERA |
G |
GS |
2015 |
Mets (GCL) |
R |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
3 |
2 |
|
Brooklyn (NYP) |
SS |
0 |
2 |
5.11 |
3 |
2 |
|
Savannah (SAL) |
LoA |
4 |
0 |
1.87 |
6 |
5 |
2016 |
St. Lucie (FSL) |
HiA |
10 |
9 |
3.56 |
25 |
25 |
2017 |
St. Lucie (FSL) |
HiA |
0 |
0 |
2.13 |
3 |
3 |
|
Binghamton (EL) |
AA |
6 |
1 |
1.66 |
7 |
7 |
|
New York (NL) |
MAJ |
3 |
6 |
7.88 |
14 |
9 |
Major League Totals |
3 |
6 |
7.88 |
14 |
9 |
||
Minor League Totals |
32 |
21 |
3.28 |
78 |
74 |
||
Year |
Club (League) |
CG |
SV |
IP |
H |
HR |
2015 |
Mets (GCL) |
0 |
0 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
|
Brooklyn (NYP) |
0 |
0 |
12 |
15 |
0 |
|
Savannah (SAL) |
0 |
0 |
34 |
28 |
0 |
2016 |
St. Lucie (FSL) |
1 |
0 |
134 |
125 |
6 |
2017 |
St. Lucie (FSL) |
0 |
0 |
13 |
12 |
1 |
|
Binghamton (EL) |
2 |
0 |
49 |
28 |
4 |
|
New York (NL) |
0 |
0 |
48 |
62 |
11 |
Major League Totals |
0 |
0 |
48 |
62 |
11 |
|
Minor League Totals |
5 |
0 |
417 |
376 |
24 |
|
Year |
Club (League) |
BB |
SO |
K/9 |
WHIP |
AVG |
2015 |
Mets (GCL) |
1 |
5 |
7.5 |
0.50 |
.100 |
|
Brooklyn (NYP) |
8 |
13 |
9.5 |
1.86 |
.300 |
|
Savannah (SAL) |
7 |
33 |
8.8 |
1.04 |
.226 |
2016 |
St. Lucie (FSL) |
51 |
95 |
6.4 |
1.31 |
.249 |
2017 |
St. Lucie (FSL) |
3 |
13 |
9.2 |
1.18 |
.245 |
|
Binghamton (EL) |
7 |
50 |
9.2 |
0.72 |
.165 |
|
New York (NL) |
35 |
36 |
6.8 |
2.02 |
.321 |
Major League Totals |
35 |
36 |
6.8 |
2.02 |
.321 |
|
Minor League Totals |
140 |
343 |
7.4 |
1.24 |
.239 |
|