Noah Syndergaard

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked New York Mets #1 prospect in 2015
  Blue Jays area scout Steve Miller correctly gauged the 17-year-old Syndergaard's upside potential as the Legacy High righthander added velocity and cruised through the Texas 4-A state playoffs in 2010. Toronto nabbed Syndergaard with the 38th pick that June and signed him for a below-slot $600,000. He rose to low Class A in the Blue Jays system before Toronto traded him, plus catcher Travis d'Arnaud, to the Mets for R.A. Dickey following the 2012 season. In the two years since the trade, Dickey has provided solid mid-rotation value for the Blue Jays, logging a 3.97 ERA and averaging 220 innings per season, while Syndergaard ranked as the top pitching prospect in the Florida State and Eastern leagues in 2013 and the Pacific Coast League in 2014. He spent all of the latter season at Las Vegas, leading the of just seven qualified Triple-A starters to fan at least one-quarter of opposing batters. Syndergaard generates easy double-plus velocity from his large, 6-foot-6 frame, and unlike many young pitchers who sit in the mid-90s, he already has average control with a chance for plus big league control. He never has walked as many as three batters per nine innings in a minor league season. His delivery may not be textbook--he opens early, costing him deception--but he's strong enough to repeat his mechanics and throw strikes. Syndergaard reaches back for 98 mph when he needs it and pitches off his live, running fastball, all while the quality of his secondary pitches continues to improve. He varies the shape and speed of his curveball, often generating plus depth and low-80s velocity from a high three-quarters arm slot. At other times, the deuce arrives in the mid-70s with slurvy, lateral break. His high-80s changeup will be at least an average weapon for him after he threw it more often in 2014, when he achieved his best results yet against lefthanders. Scouts attribute Syndergaard's poor Triple-A results, including a 4.60 ERA and .293 opponent average, to a number of factors, including a tough pitcher's park at Las Vegas that accentuates both singles and home runs, spotty fastball command, a lack of deception and at times a lack of variety to his pitch sequencing. He improved in the second half, however, logging a 3.28 ERA and 3.6 SO/BB ratio in his final 11 starts and 60 innings. Syndergaard missed two starts in 2014 while recovering from injuries to his right forearm and left shoulder. Not only did the Mets neglect to call up Syndergaard in 2014, as they had Zack Wheeler in 2013 and Matt Harvey in 2012, they bypassed him entirely to call up Las Vegas rotation-mates Jake deGrom and Rafael Montero during the first half of the season. That won't be the case in 2015, not after Syndergaard joined the 40-man roster in November. He threw a career-high 133 innings in 2014 and could be good for 150 or more in New York this year. Syndergaard profiles as a No. 2 starter with two plus pitches, an average third and at least average control.
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  Ranked New York Mets #1 prospect in 2014
  The Blue Jays correctly gauged Syndergaard's potential and signability when they nabbed the Dallas Baptist commit with the 38th pick in the 2010 draft. He flew up Toronto's draft board that spring as area scout Steve Miller watched the 17-year-old righthander's velocity climb from the high 80s to a steady 92-94 mph. Syndergaard struck out 39 batters in his final three starts for Legacy High in the Texas 4-A playoffs, then wasted no time in signing with the Blue Jays for a below-slot $600,000 bonus. He breezed through two short-season levels in 2011, then starred in a prospect-studded Lansing rotation in 2012 that also featured Justin Nicolino and Aaron Sanchez. That offseason, Syndergaard (and catcher Travis d'Arnaud) joined the Mets in the trade that sent reigning Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey to the Blue Jays. He started the 2013 Futures Game for the U.S. team at New York's Citi Field, then jumped on the fast track with a second-half promotion to Double-A Binghamton. He ranked as the top pitching prospect in both the Florida State and Eastern leagues. Overpowering fastball velocity and sharp control have always been Syndergaard's hallmarks. He throws his fastball at 94-98 mph with vicious armside run that saws off righthanders, who hit .196/.240/.294 with four homers in 251 plate appearances against him in 2013. Just six starters who qualified for the minor league ERA title struck out batters at a higher rate than Syndergaard (28.2 percent), and his 4.75 SO/BB ratio surpassed anyone in the top 10. A repeatable delivery and clean arm action help him pitch downhill and throw consistent strikes, and he averaged a tick more than one walk per start in 2013. His secondary stuff grades more as average in most starts, though his 12-to-6 curveball features more power and spin than it did when he first turned pro. Pitching coordinator Ron Romanick encouraged Syndegaard to visualize throwing his breaking ball with a fastball mentality and arm speed, rather than casting the pitch and trying to drop the perfect curve in the zone. He throws a firm changeup that sits in the high 80s, a pitch he must refine after allowing lefties to hit .296 and slug .471 against him in 2013. He still has yet to throw more than 120 innings in a season. With a typical development track at Triple-A Las Vegas, Syndergaard stands poised to make his big league debut around midseason in 2014, a la Matt Harvey in 2012 and Zack Wheeler in 2013. With the stuff he has now Syndegaard would profile as a No. 3 starter, but if one of his secondary pitches becomes a consistent plus, then he becomes a prototype No. 2 because scouts have no questions about his mound presence or command.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #2 prospect in 2013
  The Blue Jays promoted area scout Steve Miller to crosschecker after he diligently followed Syndergaard in 2010. Syndergaard went from throwing 87-90 mph at the start of the spring to 92-94 mph just before the draft, and Miller persuaded Toronto to draft him 38th overall. Signed for a below-slot $600,000, he has posted a 2.35 ERA and averaged 10 strikeouts per nine innings as a pro. Syndergaard's big frame gives him an imposing presence on the mound, and his fastball only adds to it. His heater ranges from 92-98 mph with excellent downward angle and armside run. His curveball has gained velocity since he signed and now sits in the mid-70s with downward action. It's inconsistent and eventually may develop into a slider, but it gets outs and features good spin. He maintains his arm speed well on his changeup. He has good body control for his size, which leads to quality command and control. Syndergaard and fellow 2010 sandwich pick Aaron Sanchez have risen through the minors together and will team again in 2013 at high Class A Dunedin. Both have the ceiling of a frontline starter, with Syndergaard not quite matching Sanchez in stuff but outshining him in terms of polish.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #7 prospect in 2012
  The Blue Jays give area scout Steve Miller credit for his work following Syndergaard leading up to the 2010 draft. Miller saw him at 87-90 mph early in a March 2010 start, but stuck around to see him finish the game at 92-94. When Syndergaard starred in the Texas 4-A state playoffs, Toronto decided to not take any chances in the draft, selecting him 38th overall and signing him for a below-slot $600,000. He recorded a 1.83 ERA and 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings in 2011, earning two promotions in two months. The athletic Syndergaard has sound mechanics for his size and already operates at 94-96 mph with his fastball, which hit 100 mph while he was at Vancouver. He uses his height to get good downhill plane on his fastball and it rides in on righthanders, consistently inducing weak contact. He has a power curveball with nice shape and plus potential, but he tends to overthrow it. His changeup sits in the mid-80s with sink and has good separation in velocity from his heater. Syndergaard's fastball and projection give him a No. 2 starter ceiling, which he should reach as long as his secondary pitches progress as expected. He pitched well after reaching low Class A shortly before his 19th birthday, and he'll return there to begin 2012.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #24 prospect in 2011
  Syndergaard's stock started to soar just before the 2010 draft when he starred in the Texas 4-A playoffs, pumping low-90s fastballs and striking out 39 in his final three starts. The Blue Jays were on him earlier than anyone, thanks to area scout Steve Miller. He saw Syndergaard sit at 87-90 mph in the first few innings of a game in March, but Miller stuck around and saw him finish the contest at 92-94. With its hand forced by his postseason heroics, Toronto took him in the supplemental first round and signed him for a below-slot $600,000. He pitched just 13 innings in his first pro summer before the Jays shut him down as a precaution when his elbow bothered him, but he returned for instructional league. Syndergaard is big and athletic with a good delivery for his size. His fastball now sits at 92-93 mph and touches 95. He has an effective changeup and good shape to his curveball. His breaking ball is still a work in progress and could develop into a slider. He may open 2011 in extended spring training and head to short-season Auburn in June.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #5 prospect in 2014
  Managers and scouts held mixed opinions on the physical Syndergaard, based on his performance at Las Vegas' notoriously hitter-friendly Cashman Field. He led the PCL in strikeouts but took his lumps as well. One rival manager called Syndergaard a "good prospect, but not an accomplished pitcher right now," while a scout from a rival organization called him "probably the best pitcher in the PCL, prospect-wise." Acquired by the Mets in the deal that sent R.A. Dickey to the Blue Jays, Syndergaard touched 100 mph this season and pitched at 95-97 with heavy run and sinking action on his fastball. He adds to that a deceptive changeup for which he has feel and a curveball that flashes average. He was slowed in 2014 by injuries to his right forearm and left shoulder. "His deception's not great, especially on his breaking ball," said a second scout, "but the action on it is good. He's a horse."
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  Ranked Florida State League #6 prospect in 2013
  While R.A. Dickey didn?t deliver as the Blue Jays had hoped, Syndergaard did for the Mets after being the key piece in the offseason trade that centered around the 2012 National League Cy Young Award winner. Scouts and managers considered him the easy choice as the best pitching prospect in the FSL thanks to a premium fastball, notable as much for its arm-side run and ability to get in on righthanded hitters as for its premium 94-98 mph velocity. Syndergaard adds a fine pitcher?s build and clean delivery, both indicative of durability. Scouts and managers in the FSL considered his secondary stuff?he throws both a curveball and slider as well as a firm changeup?closer to average, with the change more on the fringy side. Lefthanded hitters had success against him both in the FSL (.733 OPS) and in the Eastern League (.909 OPS). ?His fastball is heavy,? Palm Beach manager Johnny Rodriguez said. ?It really explodes out of his hand. He has the fastball to be a No. 1 starter, but his secondary stuff might make him more of a No. 3.?
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  Ranked Eastern League #3 prospect in 2013
  Two plus pitches and another that rates at least average is always enough to land a pitcher on a list like this. With his fastball, curveball and changeup, Syndergaard has that part down. What sets him apart from his peers, however, is the outstanding command he displays and what one scout described as a ?rare combination of power and strikes.? He uses his big, strong body to generate a fastball that sits between 93-96 mph, has touched triple-digits and features plenty of life. He couples it with a sharp curveball that improved in Double-A, reaching in the low-80s, and a budding changeup. He improved the arm speed on his curve after incorporating a slider into his repertoire this season. Syndergaard still needs to refine his pitch sequencing and learn to keep his fastball down in the zone. If he irons out those issues, he?ll become the frontline starter scouts project him to be.
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  Ranked Midwest League #5 prospect in 2012
  While Sanchez has the best pure stuff and Nicolino has the most polish among Lansing's pitching standouts, Syndergaard offers the best combination of both. After the Blue Jays stopped easing them into full-season ball by piggybacking their starts, Syndergaard was far and away the most dominant in the second half, going 5-3, 1.65 with 65 strikeouts in 60 innings. He has a fastball that ranges from 92-98 mph and throws it with sink and cut on a steep downhill plane to both sides of the plate. He gets outs with his downer curveball, though it's a little soft and inconsistent, and he sells his changeup well. He has good body control for a tall pitcher, and a second AL scout said Syndergaard reminded him of Adam Wainwright with perhaps a better changeup.
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  Ranked American League #4 prospect in 2011
  Enhanced velocity combined with a strong performance in the Texas 4-A high school playoffs prompted the Blue Jays to draft Syndergaard 38th overall and sign him for a below-slot $600,000. He required just seven appearances for Bluefield before being promoted to short-season Vancouver, and four starts later he landed with low Class A Lansing. Across the three levels, he compiled a 1.83 ERA and averaged 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings. Syndergaard has a pure power pitcher's frame, and he pumps 92-94 mph heat while peaking at 97. As a testament to the quality of his fastball, he didn't throw many breaking balls in the Appy League, but he showed snap and bite on a promising curveball. He didn't trust his changeup enough to use it with any regularity, but with just a fringy change of pace and consistent breaking ball, he'd profile as a top-end starter. "He did it very, very easy against us," Princeton manager Michael Johns said. "He located his four-seamer up, down, in, out--just toying with us. It was fun to watch an 18-year-old be able to do that."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #11 prospect in 2015
• Ranked Baseball America's #16 prospect in 2014
• Ranked Baseball America's #54 prospect in 2013

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: The Blue Jays promoted area scout Steve Miller to crosschecker after he diligently stayed with Syndergaard in 2010. He went from throwing 87-90 mph at the start of the spring to 92-94 mph just before the draft, and Miller persuaded Toronto to draft Syndergaard 38th overall. Signed for a below-slot $600,000, he has posted a 2.35 ERA and averaged 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings as a pro. Scouting Report: Syndergaard's big frame gives him an imposing presence on the mound, and his fastball only adds to it. His heater ranges from 92-98 mph with excellent downward angle and armside run. His curveball has gained velocity since he signed and now sits in the mid-70s with downward action. It's inconsistent and eventually may develop into a slider, but it gets outs and features good spin. He maintains his arm speed well on his mid-80s changeup. He has very good body control for his size, which leads to quality command and control. The Future: Syndergaard and fellow 2010 sandwich pick Aaron Sanchez have risen through the minors together and will team again in 2013 at high Class A Dunedin. Both have the ceiling of a frontline starter, with Syndergaard not quite matching Sanchez in stuff but outshining him in terms of polish.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: The Blue Jays give area scout Steve Miller credit for his work following Syndergaard leading up to the 2010 draft. Miller saw him at 87-90 mph early in a March 2010 start, but stuck around to see him finish the game at 92-94. When Syndergaard starred in the Texas 4-A state playoffs, Toronto decided to not take any chances in the draft, selecting him 38th overall and signing him for a below-slot $600,000. . Scouting Report: The athletic Syndergaard has sound mechanics for his size and already operates at 94-96 mph with his fastball, which hit 100 mph while he was at Vancouver. He uses his height to get good downhill plane on his fastball and it rides in on righthanders, consistently inducing weak contact. He has a power curveball with nice shape and plus potential, but he tends to overthrow it. His changeup sits in the mid-80s with sink and has good separation in velocity from his heater. The Future: Syndergaard's fastball and projection give him a No. 2 starter ceiling, which he should reach as long as his secondary pitches progress as expected. He pitched well after reaching low Class A shortly before his 19th birthday, and he'll return there to begin 2012.