The Brooklyn Cyclones [NYPL Mets] began a four-game series against the Hudson Valley Renegades on Monday. Brooklyn got the victory due almost entirely to a stellar performance from starting pitcher Luis Mateo, and relievers Paul Sewald and Tyler Vanderheiden. Mateo two-hit the Renegades and the Cyclones went on to win 1-0.
Rich Donnelly on Brandon Nimmo
We really like him. He's doing just great. He's straight out of high school, which is incredible. He's got good on base percentage, he's walking, and he's learning fast. He's going to face some difficult experiences, like he did tonight. We expect that. The game is very fast for him right now. Each day he's improving.
Reliever Paul Sewald on his professional debut
It was my pro debut so of course my adrenaline was going more. Kevin [Plawecki] was calling the right pitches. It was a good first outing.
[The coaches and manager] talked to me before the game. They just tried to calm me down. When I was out there I had to remember it's the same game, whether
I was in command of all my pitches, going forward I need to just focus on command of all three of my pitches and stay with that everytime.
Sewald's line: 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 SO
Mark Valdes on Luis Mateo
This is his second start here and playing here in the states. He's a kid that's got a good arm. He's got a 92-95 mile per hour fastball, he has a changeup, and he throws a slider. He throws strikes. He likes to get guys out quick.
The game, early on, may speed up on him. Sometimes young kids show frustration when things don't go their way on the field or they're struggling with their mechanics. Once he learns his body and mechanics a little better he'll be fine.
He went a good five, six innings last time, so it could be six or seven. We just wait to see if he's got long innings. So we just gotta use our judgement and keep him within 85 pitches [per game].
I try to prepare them as if they were going to pitch in higher A or double A. We want them to use their fastball primarily on both sides of the plate and then get the changeup going. There's going to be times where these guys struggle, because the changeup's not their best pitch or it's their fourth best. But we force them to throw it so they can use that when they get to the higher levels.
His slider is his second best pitch. But he feels very confident using his changeup. He's buying into the way we want things done. And so he'll throw a lot of changeups.
HHOTF notes on Mateo: He was highly impressive in his second outing of the season, with seven strikeouts in the six innings the Cyclones were looking for from him. The very athletic righty, has a quick move to first and looks halfway to home plate when he pitches. His extension is excellent. But, as Valdes mentioned, he's still growing into his body. He didn't overthrow a lot, but that was the only issue that crept up. Otherwise, he was hitting the corners, using his curve wisely, and commanding the ball on both sides of the plate, mixing all of his pitches with veteran-like ease.
He's now 2-0 with 0.77 ERA.
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