PORT ST. LUCIE — The big arms are coming, and not just Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler.
While the attention has been focused on the Big Two, other young names are coming into focus for the Mets and make no mistake the Mets are going to need these arms especially since the Johan Santana situation looks to be so troublesome.
From the day he took over until now, this is what general manager Sandy Alderson thinks about the Mets’ pitching: “Substantially better.”
“Over the last two years we’ve acquired some good pitching in trades, we’ve signed some outstanding pitching in Latin America and we’ve also been successful drafting both college and high school pitchers in the draft,” he said. “It’s definitely a strength that we have.’’
Two of those arms were on display in the 5-2 win over the University of Michigan at Tradition Field — Hansel Robles and Rafael Montero.
Robles was in Class A Brooklyn last season and ended the year with 45 innings without allowing an earned run. He was added to the 40-man roster. He pitched a scoreless inning yesterday. Montero threw two scoreless innings.
Other names include Jeurys Familia and Jenrry Mejia. Gonzalez Germen has impressed, too.
“The power arms are important to have, it’s a marker of future success,’’ Alderson said.
Manager Terry Collins envisions power arms coming out of his bullpen.
“To know that those kinds of arms are coming, that’s a big thing,’’ said Collins, who will need all the pitching help he can get.
Veteran catcher John Buck has been working with some of these young pitchers and has been around long enough to honestly gauge prospects. He said he has been impressed with what he has seen from these young Mets pitchers.
“As far as quantity and the makeup and who you have here,’’ Buck said, his eyes opening wide, “the future is bright. They throw the type of bullpens that get you to stop and watch.
“And some of the guys who may not even see big league time this year that I’ve caught there are some arms down there that are electric and can locate. I saw Robles and I was like: ‘Who’s this kid? Why is this kid not in the big leagues?’ I was told, he’s real young.’’
Robles, 22, is three months younger than Wheeler. He was 6-1 last season at Brooklyn with a 1.11 ERA.
“Montero, when he holds that ball, it looks like a tiny pill in his hand,’’ Buck said. “And they all have like two or three pitches. It shows you where they are headed. And they have some lefties sprinkled in there too with [Josh] Edgin and [Robert] Carson.’’
This is the Alderson Plan for the young arms.
“We’re trying to do a couple things at the minor league level,’’ Alderson said. “Ensure that from a physical standpoint they remain healthy, which means not overusing but not underusing.
“From a development standpoint, we want them to work on a variety of pitches. And the third thing we are trying to do is develop them on the mental side of the game.’’
Another one of those young arms threw yesterday in the top prospect step-camp, Noah Syndergaard, who came over in the R.A. Dickey trade. He fired his first bullpen session as a Met and the right-hander admitted he was extremely nervous.
“My first 15 pitches were kind of rough today but the last 15, I was locating my fastball down in the strike zone,’’ the 20-year-old Texan said.
“Just being traded for a Cy Young Award winner has put a little nerves on me. I’m sure after the first week I’ll be fine.’’
Syndergaard’s parents, Heidi and Brad, were watching the session, too. They all drove out from Texas.
“This is a great opportunity and I’m going to work as hard as I can to make my way to New York,’’ Syndegaard said.
For these young Mets’ pitchers, the journey has just begun.