Chris Flexen heard the speech. Every player that comes up to the big league sits in Terry Collins? office at some point and hears the most basic of advice: do what got you here. Now the 23-year-old, who is making the big jump from Double-A to the big leagues on Thursday, just has to remember it when he gets out on the mound and makes his major league debut.
?I don?t think it will be too difficult,? said Flexen, who will start in place of the injured Zack Wheeler on Thursday against the Padres. ?The hardest thing is to manage the emotions. Everything is going to be heightened at the moment.
?Like he said whatever got me here, stick with it. That?s been being confident, attacking guys and that?s what I am going to go out and do. Just stick to the game plan.?
Flexen has impressed the Mets in seven starts in Double-A this season. He?s allowed nine earned runs in 48.2 innings pitched (1.66 ERA). He?s walked just seven, or one per start, and struck out 50.
According to two talent evaluators who have seen Flexen pitch, he is not a high-velocity guy. He ?works in the low 90?s with decent life to his fastball.? The slider and changeup had been his most improved pitches this season. He can throw four pitches for strikes and does a good job mixing them up. He projects as a back-end starter in the future.
?I don?t think it will be too difficult,? said Flexen, who will start in place of the injured Zack Wheeler on Thursday against the Padres. ?The hardest thing is to manage the emotions. Everything is going to be heightened at the moment.
?Like he said whatever got me here, stick with it. That?s been being confident, attacking guys and that?s what I am going to go out and do. Just stick to the game plan.?
Flexen has impressed the Mets in seven starts in Double-A this season. He?s allowed nine earned runs in 48.2 innings pitched (1.66 ERA). He?s walked just seven, or one per start, and struck out 50.
According to two talent evaluators who have seen Flexen pitch, he is not a high-velocity guy. He ?works in the low 90?s with decent life to his fastball.? The slider and changeup had been his most improved pitches this season. He can throw four pitches for strikes and does a good job mixing them up. He projects as a back-end starter in the future.
