The New York Mets enjoyed a rare positive development, as it was revealed prospect Anthony Kay will attend the Futures Game in Cleveland.
New York Mets pitching prospect Anthony Kay will represent the team in the 2019 MLB All-Star Futures Game this All-Star break. The reveal was reported by Newsday’s Tim Healey.
Official: Long Island’s Anthony Kay, the Mets’ top pitching prospect, will be the club’s lone representative in the Futures Game.
(Jarred Kelenic and Long Island’s Justin Dunn will be there for the Mariners.)
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) June 28, 2019
Kay, 24, is a Stony Brook, Long Island native. The Mets chose him with the 31st pick of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft. The Mets previously took him in the 29th round in 2013, but Kay opted to play for the University of Connecticut.
Kay missed the entire 2017 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in October 2016. The left-hander went 7-11 with a 4.26 ERA in 2018 between Single-A squads in Columbia and Port St. Lucie.
A promotion to AA Binghamton allowed Kay to break out. In 12 starts, he compiled a 7-3 record with an Eastern League-best 149 ERA. On May 14, he threw a complete game shutout, striking out eight and allowing just three hits in a 7-0 win over Altoona.
Kay was promoted to AAA Syracuse on June 14. He has struggled at the level directly below the majors (0-3, 9.64 ERA in four starts), but did throw five innings in a Saturday game in Buffalo. He would strike out four in a 9-3 Syracuse loss.
The Futures Game has been part of the MLB All-Star festivities since 1999. The exhibition, held at the stadium hosting the All-Star Game, normally pitted United States prospects against those from elsewhere on the globe, under a “World” team banner. However, this season’s game will feature a traditional AL vs NL format, as seen in the main event. Former pitcher Dennis Martinez, part of the host Cleveland Indians from 1994-96, will manage the NL squad, while local slugger Jim Thome will hand AL duties.
Notably, future Mets All-Star Jose Reyes was named the MVP of the 2002 edition at Miller Park.
This season’s All-Star Futures Game will be played on July 7 at Progressive Field (7:00 p.m. ET, MLB Network).
