MMO Exclusive: Mets Left-Handed Pitching Prospect, Anthony Kay
The Mets drafted left-hander starter Anthony Kay with the 31st pick of the 2016 draft from the University of Connecticut. It was actually the second time the the Mets drafted Kay after taking him in the 29th round out of Ward Melville in 2013, but not signing him.
Kay’s pro career got off to a slow start with him missing the rest of the 2016 season after being drafted and then sitting out the entire 2017 season following Tommy John Surgery.
The New York native made his pro debut with the Class-A Columbia Fireflies on April 8, 2018 with four innings. He posted a 4.54 ERA (3.56 FIP) and a 10.13 K/9 in 69.1 innings for Columbia before being promoted to Advanced-A St. Lucie. His strikeouts were down in St. Lucie (7.59), but he still posted a 3.88 ERA (3.67 FIP) in 53.1 innings.
Most important stat for Kay from the 2018 season was his 122.2 innings pitched. The Mets needed him to stay healthy and log innings. He did that while hitting 96 mph with his four-seamer and showing off a high spin rate on his curveball.
The Mets were certainly impressed with what they saw from Kay and invited the prospect to big league camp in 2019, but it’s tough to imagine them believing Kay would be this good.
Kay is coming off a start in which he didn’t allow a hit in seven shutout innings. He allowed just one baserunner via a walk, but faced the minimum thanks to a double play. Only a few hours before the start, Mets manager Mickey Callaway said that Kay was on the Mets radar.
It’s been an eye-opening start to the 2019 season for Kay as his 1.07 ERA ranks second among 439 qualified pitchers. He’s holding opponents to a .129 average, the best in the minors and his 0.77 WHIP is seventh.
Part of the big reason for Kay’s success has been the return of his changeup. The pitch was key for him in college and has been in 2019, but he struggled with it’s command in 2018 coming off TJS.
While it’s been a strong season for Kay, there’s an important competent that has been better recently to give you even more reason to think he’s ready for Triple-A. He threw strikes 60% of the time in his first six starts and that number has jumped to 68% over his last three. His improved command has allowed him to take the next step in his development and go seven innings in three straight starts.
The left-hander is in the middle of a stretch in which he’s allowed only two runs in 37.2 innings (0.48 ERA) and has held opponents to a .350 OPS during that span. He’s currently ranked as the Mets No. 7 prospect according to MLB.com and was our No. 6 prospect at MMO.
MMO – How hard was it to be taken out of a no-hitter? Did you try to talk your way into staying in and is that the first time you’ve been in that situation?
Anthony Kay – Yeah it’s definitely tough but at the end of the day you know you have a pitch count that you gotta follow and the coaching staff isn’t gonna break that rule just for a minor league no-hitter. I threw a no’hitter in high school, but it was a seven inning game so it was a little different.
MMO – Mets manager Mickey Callaway recently said that you’re on the team’s radar. What does that mean to you and what do you think you have to do to take the next step towards becoming a big leaguer.
Kay – It’s really cool to be recognized by those guys but I know I still got some more work to do to be able to get up there.
MMO – What are some of the keys to your success this year? What did you work on this year in spring training?
Kay – Worked on attacking the zone more, getting ahead, throwing more strikes. Me and Jonathan Hurst (Binghamton pitching coach) worked on speeding up my tempo a little bit and I think it’s been a huge key to helping me execute pitches.
MMO – Your curveball has been a strength for you since coming back from TJS, how has that pitched developed and do you pay attention to the spin rate numbers?
Kay – It’s key to having a 3rd pitch to keeping hitters off balance. We look at the videos and they have the numbers next to it but I don’t really focus on that too much.
MMO – What is a typical time in between starts for you in terms of throwing, watching video, and/or superstitious routines?
Kay – Try to get 1 or 2 long toss sessions in. I watch the video on my last start the day after kinda reflect on it take notes on if there were any mechanical problems. I don’t have any superstitions really.
MMO – You recently got your first pro hit, where you a good hitter in high school and who’s the best on your current team in BP?
Kay – I was alright I was pretty much a slap hitter so I don’t think you should be expecting any doubles or home runs. I think Joseph Zanghi is probably our best pitcher at the plate, he’s got a lot of power.
MMO – You got the chance to be in the same camp as fellow former Ward Melville lefty in Steven Matz. What was that like for you and did you guys talk pitching?
Kay – Yeah it was really cool to be over on that side and kinda see how all those guys go about their routine in between outings. It’s definitely good to have a familiar face over there too.
MMO – What are your thoughts on more batters using bat flips to celebrate homers/big hits?
Kay – I’m all for it. If you hit a home run do what you gotta do. But don’t be mad if I show some emotion on the mound.
MMO – You have a close to perfect pickoff move, does knowing you have that secret weapon ease you a little after giving up a single/walk?
Kay – Yeah it’s something I’ve worked on since I could remember. It definitely helps to have that weapon because it seems like runners are less likely to try to steal on me which is huge to keep the runner out of scoring position.
MMO – It was a long rehab for you following surgery, how did that weigh on you mentally and how do you think that helped you build as a pitcher?
Kay – It’s tough to sit out a year you never want to do that, but I think I’ve come back stronger from it. It seems like it happens to everyone now.
MMO – What are your goals for 2019?
Kay – Just wanna go out there and keep putting up zeros and getting guys out.
MMO – Bases loaded, two outs, full count in a tie game. What is your thought process and what pitch are you likely going to?
Kay – Depends on the batter and what not but most likely a fastball. You gotta challenge them and see what happens.
MMO – Your manager Kevin Boles mentioned that you have started to really hone in our your craft this season and that you’re looking deeper into video, heat maps, hot and cold zones, etc. When did you decide to take a deeper dive into the advanced analytics of pitching?
Kay – I talked to Boles and he said everyone up top uses that stuff and we should get used to using it so I looked into it and I really like looking at that kinda stuff and it definitely helps.
MMO – Thanks so much man for answering all my questions! Congrats on the incredible start to the season and good luck the rest of way.
Kay – Thank you appreciate it!