Nabil Crismatt is a right-handed pitching prospect who had a great 2016 season in the New York Mets organization. Crismatt was signed by the Mets as a non drafted free agent out of Colombia when he was 17 years old.
After he signed Crismatt pitched 25.1 innings in the DSL during the 2012 season. He pitched to a 4.26 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. In 2013, Crismatt repeated in the DSL and pitched far better with a 1.33 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 40.2 innings pitched.
He made his stateside debut in 2014 pitching 28 innings for the GCL Mets. It was another strong season as he pitched to a 2.25 ERA in 28 innings.
During the 2015 season, Crismatt was a swing man for the first time in his career. Before the 2015 he was exclusively used out of the bullpen. Crismatt had another solid season in a slightly different role pitching to a 6-1 record with a 2.90 ERA in 62 innings pitched for the Kingsport Mets. He pitched in twelve games, eight of them were starts.
Crismatt started the 2016 season in the Brooklyn Cyclones pen pitching to a 3.19 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP. Most impressive was that Crismatt allowed just four walks in 31 innings for the Cyclones.
Crismatt also pitched well for the Fireflies as he pitched in four games, three starts for the Fireflies. Crismatt was dominant for the Fireflies witha 1.88 ERA and a 0.76 WHIP.
Crismatt ended his successful season with a start for the Binghamton Mets. He pitched six innings of one-run ball in his Double-A debut.
Overall in 2016, Crismatt had a 2.47 ERA in 65.2 innings pitched. His WHIP was very impressive at just 0.88 mostly because he allowed very few walks. Crismatt allowed just one walk per nine while, striking out 10.1 per nine. It showed how good he was in every role and level he pitched. His 26.2 K-BB% was 20th among 1,877 minor league pitchers who threw at least 50 innings in 2016.
Crismatt used a fastball in the 88-92 MPH range, throws a ton of strikes and has possibly the best changeup in the Mets system. He combines that with an advanced approach to pitching hitters using his changeup early in counts and being comfortable pitching backwards.
In this interview Crismatt talks about being part of the Colombian WBC Roster, how his Mets career went among other things.
Crismatt: It is a pleasure for me to answer your questions. In 2016, I think one of the things that helped me the most was keeping the ball down and changing the timing on my mechanics.
MMN: How was it like to grow up with baseball in Colombia?
Crismatt: It’s been an honor, and a great pleasure to receive all the support of my Colombians, I feel really fortunate to represent them in every pitch I make.
MMN: What was your earliest baseball memory?
Crismatt: When I was about 12 years old, I threw a complete 7 innings game, in which we won and that made us go with the Colombian minor league team to represent our country in Monterrey, Mexico.
MMN: Who taught you the game? And whom did you learn the most from?
Crismatt: The person who introduced me to this game of baseball, the one who taught me how to play catch and throw my first balls, is the person who every day since then to the present still gives me all the love and support nobody can imagine, my father, José Crismatt, I have to say he taught me the game. The persons that I can say I’ve learned the most about the game are both my father and a lefty pitcher from Colombia who currently plays with Chicago White Sox, that’s Jose Quintana, I have to thank them both!
MMN: You signed with the Mets as a 17 year old. How did that process go?
Crismatt: I played in 2012 and 2013 in the Dominican Republic summer league, an then in 2014 I went to play in the USA in the gold cup league, in 2015 in the Appalachian League, and in 2016 I started it with the Columbia Fireflies, then I went on and played with Binghamton Mets.
MMN: You started playing in the Dominican Summer League. Can you describe how a baseball season in the DSL goes?
Crismatt: It was an interesting experience, I learned a lot and I met different people and their cultures. It felt like I was at home. I come from the Colombian Caribbean region.
MMN: You made your stateside debut after a good year in 2013. How was it like to pitch in the USA for the first time?
Crismatt: I felt lucky to have the opportunity to be part of the group, to represent the Mets in the USA.
MMN: You had a lot of great moments in 2016. From pitching in Brooklyn to having a great debut in Binghamton. What you proudest moment?
Crismatt: The most important is that I am seeing the results of my effort. Discipline and desire are my best reward.
MMN: You pitched in Brooklyn, Columbia and Binghamton in 2016. What was your favorite place to pitch and why?
Crismatt: I felt comfortable in every place I have played, because each stadium gave me the chance to improve different skills.
MMN: Can you give us a quick scouting report from yourself? Who is Crismatt as a pitcher?
Crismatt: I am a humble and simple person. I am a world player and I enjoy sharing with all kind of people. As a pitcher I control every pitch of pitchers. I put the ball wherever place and whenever I desire. This game is about precision.
MMN: What is your pitch arsenal? Any pitches you want to learn this season?
Crismatt: I throw fastball, curve, changeup, sinker and this year I will try to add a slider.
MMN: You have started and come out of the pen in your career. What do you prefer?
Crismatt: I feel better being a starter because you have a better preparation for the game. About the pitcher I think I can continue being a starter in the future.
MMN: Of course this interview isn’t without a couple of questions about the WBC. First of all congrats with making team Colombia. When and how did you heard about being part of the WBC roster?
Crismatt: Since last year when I threw in the final game of Colombia vs. Panama that we won, I knew I had big probabilities to be part of the Colombian team in WBC and I want to thank all the team Colombia for choosing me to represent my country. I will do my best.
MMN: Did your prepar differently during the offseason because of the WBC?
Crismatt: I had the chance to go to Puerto Rico to play with Gigantes de Carolina in Winter Ball and for sure it helped me out to gain much more experience.
MMN: What are your goals for the 2017 season?
Crismatt: Remain healthy and keep doing what I have been doing, keep my discipline and prepare myself as if I were playing my last game.
MMN: Last question, where do you think you will start your 2017 season in the Mets organization?
Crismatt: I am prepared and I am excited to do my best where they could need me. I want to be useful, I really wish I can be able to play soon in the MLB, I feel comfy, I have great numbers, and I’m fighting to get it!
MMN: Good luck in 2017 season. I will root for you and hope you will continue to impress in the Mets organization.
Crismatt: It was a pleasure for me, and for sure I will always be prepared to put the name of the Mets in the highest level as well as the Colombian’s.
Crismatt will get the tough task of pitching against the undefeated Dominican Republic team today at 12:30 PM ET in the World Baseball Classic. You can watch MMN’s number 26 ranked prospect make the start on MLB Network.
