Luis Mateo

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Mets #22 prospect in 2014
  Mateo appeared to be a $150,000 bargain in 2012 when he carved up the short-season New York-Penn League. The reason he came cheaply was because he had contracts with the Giants ($625,000) and Padres ($300,000) dissolved in 2008, and he signed with the Mets on the heels of a one-year suspension received for falsifying his age by two years. The 23-year-old Mateo jumped to high Class A St. Lucie to begin 2013, but elbow pain limited him to four appearances spread over two months. He ultimately had Tommy John surgery in June and won't step back on a mound until late in 2014. Prior to his injury, Mateo had two plus weapons at his disposal: a 92-95 mph fastball and a high-80s power slider that draws some 70 grades from scouts for its tight, late break. Incredible arm strength and sharp control point to a future as a mid-rotation starter or wipeout closer.
• 
  Ranked New York Mets #4 prospect in 2013
  Contracts Mateo signed with the Giants ($625,000 in 2008) and Padres ($300,000 later that year) were dissolved following revelations of, respectively, bone chips in his elbow and a falsified age. MLB suspended Mateo for one year when it learned he was two years older than initially believed. The Mets signed him for $150,000 in April 2011, shortly after his reinstatement. He has been old for his leagues after missing three seasons while sorting out his affairs, but he led the New York-Penn League with 85 strikeouts and finished second with a 0.90 WHIP in 2012. Mateo brandishes two pitches that project as plus weapons. He tops out near 97 mph and typically ranges from 92-95 with a fastball he leverages down in the zone. His slider is his best pitch, touching 90 mph and featuring tight, late break. His athleticism allows him to find the strike zone regularly--he walked nine batters in 12 starts--and he'll need to rely on it to help him refine a fringy changeup that he doesn't throw much at this stage. Mateo's combination of uncommon arm strength and control give him a legitimate shot to develop into a mid-rotation starter or shutdown closer. He'll remain a starter in 2013, when the Mets may begin to push him more aggressively considering he's 23. He figures to open the season in low Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked New York-Penn League #5 prospect in 2012
  Mateo originally signed with the Giants for $625,000 in 2008, when he presented himself as a 16-year old. That contract was voided when a physical revealed bone chips in his right elbow, and a $300,000 deal with the Padres that fall never went through because it turned out he was misrepresenting his age. MLB suspended him for a year, but the Mets stayed on him and signed him for $150,000 in April 2011. His U.S. debut this summer was worth the wait, as Mateo led the NY-P with 85 strikeouts and ranked second with a 9.4 K-BB ratio. He's a true power pitcher who sits at 92-95 mph and touches 96 regularly, with good angle on his fastball. His very hard, late-breaking slider is an out pitch that projects as a plus offering. Mateo also has some feel for a changeup but uses it sparingly at this stage. Though excels at pounding the strike zone, he's still refining his command and learning the finer points of pitching, such as pitch sequencing.

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Contracts Mateo signed with the Giants ($625,000 in 2008) and Padres ($300,000 later that year) were dissolved following revelations of, respectively, bone chips in his elbow and a falsified age. MLB suspended Mateo for one year when it learned he was two years older than initially believed. The Mets signed him for $150,000 in April 2011, shortly after his reinstatement. He has been old for his leagues after missing three seasons while sorting out his affairs, but he led the New York-Penn League with 85 strikeouts and finished second with a 0.90 WHIP in 2012. Scouting Report: Mateo brandishes two pitches that project as plus weapons. He tops out near 97 mph and typically ranges from 92-95 with a fastball he leverages down in the zone. His slider is his best pitch, touching 90 mph and featuring tight, late break. His athleticism allows him to find the strike zone regularly--he walked nine batters in 12 starts--and he'll need to rely on it to help him refine a fringy changeup that he doesn't throw much at this stage. The Future: Mateo's combination of uncommon arm strength and control give him a legitimate shot to develop into a mid-rotation starter or shutdown closer. He'll remain a starter in 2013, when the Mets may begin to push him more aggressively considering he's 23.