2017 Mets draft profile: Yadiel Flores

Name: Yadiel Flores

Born: Yabucoa, Puerto Rico

Age: 17 (7/31/99)

Height/Weight: 6'2"/165 lbs

Position: RHP

Bats/Throws: R/R

School: Puerto Rico Baseball Academy

A product of Puerto Rico Baseball Acedemy, Yadiel Flores is as lean a pitcher as you will find, standing 6’2” and weighing 165. His string bean frame is highly projectable, and how much mass he is able to add over the next few years will determine how successful he will be as a professional baseball player.

Flores’s fastball sits in the low-to-mid-80s, topping out at 86 MPH, with movement and sinking life when it is thrown down in the zone. His fastball gained roughly 6 MPH over the last year, and is likely to gain more over the coming years as his slender body fills in. He complements his fastball with a high-70s slider, which flashes tight spin and bite. He often overthrows the pitch, but the right-hander has a very solid feel for the pitch despite his young age. He occasionally throws a mid-70s curveball and a low-70s changeup, but does not use either pitch with much regularity during in-game situations.

Flores throws from a low three-quarters arm slot. He gets all he can out of his body, with full arm action and hard acceleration to the plate. His high leg lift and loose, crossfire delivery give his pitches deception and movement.

Rivera had a commitment to Lincoln Trail College, a community college in Robinson, Illinois, but broke it to sign with the Mets.