Drafted in the 4th round (111th overall) by the Cincinnati Reds in 1995.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
Corey spent most of his five previous seasons as a starter before becoming one of the top closers in the minors in 2001. After succeeding in 17 of 19 save situations in Double-A, he was even more effective following his promotion to Triple-A. That effort earned Corey a cup of coffee in New York during September and the Mets' minor league pitcher of the year award. He underwent labrum surgery in 1997, but has shown no ill effects since. His fastball, which remains on the same plane without any natural drop, improved 3-4 mph last season and clocked as high as 96 mph. Corey is a versatile hurler who can handle a variety of roles on a pitching staff, but he'll also be 27 this season and only recently has shown the ingredients necessary to pitch in the major leagues. He must continue to prove that his recent success wasn't a fluke. The Mets would like for Corey to put together another strong half-season in Triple-A before he joins their bullpen.
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Rated Best Reliever in the Eastern League in 2001
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