Mets right-handed pitcher Joel Diaz has been listed by Baseball America as one of 10 "sleeper" pitching prospects to watch in 2022.

Diaz, 17, turned heads last season in the Dominican Summer League during what was his Mets minor league debut.

In 15 starts spanning 50.1 innings, Diaz posted a 0.54 ERA and 0.75 WHIP with 63 strikeouts (11.3 per 9) and just nine walks.

He did not allow a home run all season.

Late last season, SNY contributor Jacob Resnick listed Diaz among Mets prospects whose stock was up, writing at the time:

He sits in the 91-93 mph range, but Diaz has been able to dial his fastball up to 95-96 mph. Though he isn’t skinny and super projectable like some of his DSL teammates, the occasional appearance of mid-90s velocity is confirmation that it exists and can be harnessed with continued mechanical refinements.

Diaz also works in a changeup and curveball, the latter of which is the primary offspeed offering. He commands it pretty well for a 17-year-old and goes to it frequently with two strikes.

As far as where Diaz ranks among the Mets' top 20 prospects, SNY contributor Joe DeMayo slotted him in at No. 20 on his offseason list, referring to him as "a bit of a pop-up prospect who has a wide range of outcomes."

Diaz will likely make his stateside debut in 2022.

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