Mets Flamethrower Raimon Gomez Prepares For Takeoff
Two years ago, Raimon Gomez was the only pitcher in the Mets organization to touch 100 mph.
The righthander was poised for takeoff at High-A Brooklyn in 2023 after opening eyes on the spring training backfields. But then Tommy John surgery grounded him after just three starts.
Gomez missed the entire season and then all of 2024 as well.
This year, the 23-year-old righthander is trying to up the ante. He topped out at 102.8 mph in an early live batting practice session this spring.
“He’s sitting more in the 99 (mph) range now, which is where we want him,” Mets farm director Andrew Christie said. “We have dialed him back a tad.”
The reasoning is simple: The Mets want to keep Gomez healthy and progressing toward Queens, because they believe he has some of the best stuff in the organization.
His journey begins in the Low-A St. Lucie rotation this year as he ramps up activity for the first time in two years.
Gomez sits in the high 90s with his four-seam fastball and in the mid 80s with a slider that befuddles hitters gearing up for heat. He throws a changeup sparingly and has tried a cutter in the past.
Like many Mets pitchers, Gomez has recently added a two-seam fastball.
“The four-seam and slider are his bread-and-butter,” Christie said. “His two-seam is relatively new. When you throw that hard, the pitch is going in on righties hard. He picked that up pretty quickly, which is good to see.”
Gomez signed out of Venezuela with little fanfare in 2021. At age 19, he was considered to be a passed-over international prospect.
He was passed over again in last winter’s Rule 5 draft, which is defensible considering he hasn’t pitched since early 2023 and was not throwing in winter ball.
Still, the Mets breathed a sigh of relief when Gomez went unselected.
While losing two development years was not ideal, Gomez attacked his rehab and dramatically improved his physical condition. The Mets see other signs of maturity.
This year, Gomez’s wife and young daughter are living with him.
“He’s in a really good spot,” Christie said.
