Eddie Kunz

Kunz possesses a mid-90s fastball, decent changeup, and a hard, late-breaking slider and used all three to dominate at Double-A Binghamton, posting a 3.55 G/F ratio though down from 8.3 at Brooklyn) with 43 strikeouts in 48.1 innings and 27 saves, to earn a promotion to the parent club in August when Billy Wagner went down. It was thought that Kunz might get a shot at closing, but that never came to fruition, and he was used infrequently, making four appearances in his two weeks in the majors. Kunz was sent down to Triple-A New Orleans, where he struggled, and he did not receive a September callup. With the Mets expected to blow apart their bullpen, Kunz could earn a spot out of spring training, but will likely open the year at Triple-A Buffalo.

Kunz, the Mets' first selection - 42nd overall - in the 2007 draft, throws a mid-90's fastball, decent changeup, and a hard, late-breaking slider that still needs work. Kunz had some major command problems at times with Brooklyn in the New York-Penn League after signing, but he also posted an incredible 8.33 G/F ratio there before he struggled in the Arizona Fall League. Kunz, the former closer for Oregon State, will need to watch his weight and maintain his conditioning in the majors, but the Mets feel that he, like Joseph Smith before him, can move quickly through their system and contend for a bullpen role sooner than later.