Coming into 2013 Yoel Mecias was on the fringes of Phillies prospect discussions. There were reports of a skinny Venezuelan lefty with a fastball up to 94 and a nice looking changeup, and this for a kid coming off a year where he put up a line of 2.16 ERA 2.4 BB/9 7.3 K/9 over 41.2 IP and 4 starts. The Phillies aggressively pushed Mecias ot Lakewood where he started in a tandem with Miguel Nunez, but later took over as a full time starter and was dominant posting 3.79 ERA 3.9 BB/9 and 11.1 K/9. The fastball was 90-92 and the changeup was dirty. However he blew out his elbow and had to have Tommy John surgery. At his best Mecias will show a low 90s fastball, but you can look at the frame (6′ 2″ 160 lbs) and imagine more in there, the changeup could be plus plus as he learns to control it, but it has good arm side run and drop, and a slider that has solid potential. All told it is an arm that is more in the #3/#4 starter range that could make another jump if he gets healthy and shows more velocity and control, he could also end up as a fastball changeup lefty reliever. Mecias was rated by me as the #11 prospect in the Phillies system coming into 2014.
UPDATE: Mecias went 3 IP 2 H 1 ER 0 BB 5 K for the GCL Phillies
Yoel Mecias was sitting 87-90 topping at 91. CH was rusty and missed up a lot but still is a nice pitch at 78-82 #Phillies
— 𝘾hris King (@StatsKing) June 23, 2014