2019 Mets draft profile: Justin Lasko

Born: Stratford, Connecticut

Age: 22 (3/16/97)

Height/Weight: 6’4”/210 lbs.

Position: RHP

Bats/Throws: R/R

School: University of Massachusetts Amherst (Amhurst, Massachusetts)

Justin Lasko was a four-year letter winner at Bunnell High School in Stratford, Connecticut, where he contributed on both sides of the plate. In his senior year, he hit .310 and posted a 1.02 ERA, making the Connecticut All-State Team. Unlike his older brother, who enrolled at Boston College and played baseball there, Justin enrolled at the University of Massachusetts at Amhurst. In his first year there, he posted a 4.19 ERA in 58.0 innings over ten starts and a relief appearance, allowing 69 hits, walking 15, and striking out 40. In his sophomore season, he posted a 3.69 ERA in 83.0 innings over twelve starts and a relief appearance, allowing 94 hits, walking 20, and striking out 62.

In 2018, Lasko became the Minutemen’ Friday night starter and the right-hander responded in a big way. In 82.0 innings over twelve starts, he posted a 2.52 ERA, allowing 76 hits, walking 24, and striking out 77. Despite having his best season, Lasko went undrafted in the 2018 MLB Draft and returned to the University of Massachusetts to finish his degree. Named co-captain along with two other players, the right-hander posted a 3.81 ERA in 80.0 innings, allowing 73 hits, walking 24, and striking out 77.

At 6’4”, 210 pounds, Lasko has a solid pitching frame. He throws from a three-quarters arm slot, with a leg lift and a short arm action in the back. His fastball sits 88-92 MPH and has arm-side run and sink when thrown down in the zone. He complements his fastball with a curveball and a changeup. His curveball has 11-5 shape and sits in the low-to-mid-70s. His changeup sits in the high-70s-to-early-80s with fade, and Lasko is able to maintain his arm speed while throwing it. He is able to command all three pitches and mixes all three to keep batters off balance.