Phillies Minor Leaguers: Michael Mercado

Michael Mercado is a 6’4″ (some websites say 6’5″) 205-lb right-handed pitcher drafted 40th overall by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2017. The Phillies acquired him in early November in exchange for AA pitcher Adam Leverett and cash considerations.

Mercado joined the Rays organization straight out of Westville High School and expectations were high. He struck out 97 batters while walking just 17 in his final season of amateur ball. Tampa liked him enough to pay a hefty $2.13 million signing bonus, well above the suggested slot value for the 40th pick ($1.71 million).

After about 20 strong innings in a rookie league as an 18-year old in 2017, Mercado’s career was derailed in 2018. He struggled in 50 innings with the Rays’ low-A affiliate, posting a 5.22 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Late in the season he suffered a torn UCL and underwent Tommy John surgery. Mercado rehabbed throughout 2019, then was unable to pitch in 2020 because of the pandemic. Returning to the mound, he put up a 5.35 ERA in high-A ball in 2021 and a 4.91 ERA in AA in 2022. Last season he pitched 62 innings across AA and AAA, posting a 4.79 ERA, a 1.34 WHIP. He walked 5.1 batters per nine innings and struck out 13.8 per nine.

It will be interesting to see whether Mercado benefits from a change in scenery and coaching. Tyler called him an “extreme fly ball pitcher” on today’s PHLY Phillies podcast, and the numbers back that assertion up: Mercado allowed 1.7 home runs per nine in 2023 and his ground ball rate was just 28%. But his stuff is highly regarded, his strikeout numbers still shine, and at 24 years old the upside potential that intrigued the Rays in 2017 is still there.

Though he didn’t crack the Rays’ top-30 prospects as ranked by MLB.com in 2023, Fangraphs lists Mercado as the Phillies’ 10th-best prospect for 2024. Says Fangraphs writer Eric Longenhagen: “Mercado is capable of missing a bat when he executes any of his three main pitches [fastball/curveball/cutter], but his stuff isn’t so nasty that he can carve when he’s imprecise . . . He has minor league experience as both a closer and a long reliever, but I consider Mercado much more likely to play a consistent three-out middle-inning role in the big leagues.” Longenhagen adds that Mercado’s velocity has “yo-yo’d” in his minor league career but that his fastball currently sits around 94-96 mph.