On May 7, the New York Mets signed veteran left-handed reliever Colin Poche to a minor league deal, aiming to bolster their bullpen depth following the injury to A.J. Minter. Poche brings a solid track record, including a sub-4.00 career ERA and a standout 2023 campaign with the Tampa Bay Rays, where he posted a 2.23 ERA and an impressive 190 ERA+, ranking him among the league’s top relief pitchers that season.
Poche joins the Mets after being released by the Washington Nationals, where he struggled with an 11.42 ERA over 8.2 innings. He is expected to provide a much-needed left-handed option in a bullpen that currently lacks reliable arms to face tough left-handed hitters.
A desperate need for a reliable left-handed relief
Colin Poche finds himself with a promising opportunity in the Mets organization, largely due to the team’s shortage of left-handed relievers with strikeout potential. With both A.J. Minter and Danny Young sidelined by injuries, the bullpen is stretched thin, leaving Genesis Cabrera as the only lefty option. While Cabrera has shown flashes of effectiveness, his inconsistency has been a recurring issue. This makes Poche’s potential resurgence an appealing prospect for a team in desperate need of reliable left-handed pitching.
Despite the clear path to the major league roster, Poche’s early results in Triple-A have been troubling. His outings with the Syracuse Mets have raised red flags. Although he’s maintained a high strikeout rate — fanning more than 10 batters per nine innings — his lack of command and vulnerability to hard contact have derailed his effectiveness.
Statistically, his control has been a major concern. Poche is issuing walks at an alarming pace — nearly two per inning — a sign of serious issues with pitch location. Even more troubling is his susceptibility to home runs, surrendering over two per inning in his brief Triple-A stint. For a pitcher aiming to contribute at the big-league level, this is a disastrous trend.
What’s notable is that Poche’s struggles don’t appear to stem from diminished physical ability. His velocity and spin rates remain consistent with his impressive 2023 season, during which he limited opponents to a .254 wOBA — ranking among the top 5% of MLB relievers. The underlying tools are still present, but his execution, especially with pitch placement, has faltered. Redesigning his slider could be key to recapturing the swing-and-miss effectiveness that made him such a valuable piece in Tampa Bay.
Until Poche shows meaningful improvement in both control and home run prevention at Triple-A, a promotion to the major league bullpen seems unlikely. His track record and raw talent are undeniable, but his current form is too erratic for a Mets team in need of immediate bullpen help. For now, the organization will monitor his progress closely, hoping that their bet on a bounce-back candidate eventually pays off.
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