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Disclaimer: This is a ranking of the best players that I saw during the 2018 season. I saw a wide cross-section of teams in 2018, seeing the Kingsport Mets, Brooklyn Cyclones, Columbia Fireflies, and Binghamton Rumble Ponies, but I did not see the GCL Mets, St. Lucie Mets, or Las Vegas 51s, nor did I attend every single game of the teams that I did see. As such, this is not a comprehensive Mets prospect list. If a player is not on the list, I either did not see him, or considered the listed ten players better.
Name: Yeizo Campos
Team: Columbia Fireflies
Position: RHP
Born: 4/29/96 (22)
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 170 lbs.
Bats/Throws: R/R
Acquired: IFA, March 30, 2016 (Barcelona, Venezuela)
2018 Season: 18 G (8 GS), 74.0 IP, 73 H, 36 R, 32 ER (3.89 ERA), 18 BB, 68 K, 3 HBP, 0 BLK, 0 WP, .319 BABIP (Low-A/High-A)
Date(s) Seen: July 14 @ Lakewood (6.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 5 K)
The Man
Signed in 2016 as a 20-year-old after showing promise while playing for La Caribs de Anzoátegui of La Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional, right-hander Yeizo Campos put up good numbers in the Dominican Summer League. He made his stateside debut in 2017 and put up solid numbers in 65.2 innings combined between the GCL Mets, Brooklyn Cyclones, and St. Lucie Mets, posting a 3.97 ERA with 58 hits, 17 walks, 63 strikeouts. He spent the majority of the 2018 season with the Columbia Fireflies, and pitching as a swingman, he posted a 3.89 ERA in 67.1 innings, allowing 65 hits, walking 18, and striking out 64.
The Pitcher
Campos’ fastball sits 90-95 MPH. On a per-game basis, the pitch shows a noticeable decline in velocity as his pitch count rises; sitting 93-95 in his first inning of work, by his sixth, the pitch was only 90-92. Given that he is only 5’9” and weighs 170 lbs., stamina seems like an issue. He complements his fastball with a slider that sits 78-82 MPH and a changeup that sits 84-88 MPH. Occasionally, he mixes in a 12-6 curveball, but the pitch is not used enough to really be considered part of his repertoire, utilized more as a pitch to change the eye level of hitters and set up his next offering.
Campos utilizes a high three-quarters arm slot, exploding to the plate with a simple delivery. He can generally command all three of his pitches and work effectively in all four quadrants of the plate, though he favored throwing his slider in the upper half of the zone.
Looking To 2019
Campos spent the majority of 2018 with Columbia and should be ready to move up to St. Lucie for 2019. He began the 2018 season in the bullpen, but his role changed midyear, as he began filling in for injured starters and piggybacking with injured pitchers Chris Viall and Marcel Renteria. Going forward, pitching out of the bullpen may be best for Campos, as his fastball is noticeably less effective as his pitch count rises.