2014 Sand Gnat among Minor League arms added to Mets' 40-man.

The New York Mets made a total of six additions to their 40-man roster last Thursday, including three former Sand Gnats. The Mets' top-prospect RHP Noah Syndergaard was added to protect him from the Rule-5 Draft next month. New York also added right-handers Akeel Morris, Gabriel Ynoa, Cory Mazzoni, Hansel Robles, and lefty Jack Leathersich.

RHP Akeel Morris led the Sand Gnats last season with a 0.63 ERA (4 ER/57.0 IP). Morris was taken by the Mets in the 10^th round of the 2010 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Amalie High School (St. Thomas, VI). The 22-year-old appeared in 41 games for the Sand Gnats with a record of 4-1 and a team-high 16 saves. The Right-Hander struck out 89 for an average of 14.1 K/per 9 innings. Morris led the South Atlantic League in three categories, including Saves (16), K/per 9 innings (14.1), and Batting Average against (.103).

Joining Morris are two former Sand Gnats pitchers RHP Gabriel Ynoa and LHP Jack Leathersich. Ynoa, a 2013 Sand Gnat, finished first in the SAL with 15 wins. The Mets 12^th ranked prospect went 15-4 with a 2.72 ERA (41 ER/135.2 IP) and 106 strikeouts. The 21-year-old won game three of the Sand Gnats Championship Series against the Hagerstown Suns. The native of the Dominican Republic went 11-4 in 2014 with stints with the Florida State League St. Lucie Mets and the Double-A Binghamton Mets.

Left-Hander Jack Leathersich appeared in 12 games for the Gnats in 2012 going 0-1 with one save. The native of Beverly, MA and product of the University of Massachusetts Lowell is the 15^th ranked prospect in the Mets organization. The 24-year-old owned a 0.75 ERA (2 ER/24.0 IP) with 37 Ks and a 13.9 K/9 average with the Gnats. The 5^th round pick in 2011 totaled a 3-3 record and a 3.31 ERA (20 ER/54.1 IP) over 48 games with Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Las Vegas in 2014.

2012 Sand Gnats pitcher Jeff Walters was outrighted off the 40-man to make room for the six additions. Walters, a 27-year-old right-hander, was the 7^th round pick of the Mets in 2010 out of the University of Georgia. The native of Orlando, FL appeared in 17 games for the Gnats in 2012 with a record of 3-2 with a 0.95 ERA (3 ER/28.1 IP) and 30 Ks. Walters went 3-3 in 23 games with Triple-A Las Vegas last season. 

 

Former Gnats on the Mets 40-man
Players listed under first year. Additional Years noted
2014	2013	2012
LHP Dario Alvarez	LHP Steven Matz	RHP Jacob deGrom
RHP Akeel Morris	INF Dilson Herrera	RHP Rafael Montero
	RHP Gabriel Ynoa	LHP Jack Leathersich
2011	2010	2009
RHP Erik Goeddel	LHP Josh Edgin (2010-11)	RHP Jeurys Familia
	RHP Gonzalez German (2010-11)	INF Eric Campbell
	INF Wilfredo Tovar (2010-11)
	OF Matt den Dekker
	OF Cesar Puello
2008	2007
INF Wilmer Flores (2008-10)	OF Juan Lagares (2007-10)